Dublin Castle scandal

The Dublin Castle scandal was a controversy involving the administration of British rule in Ireland in 1884. Irish nationalists, including William O'Brien (via United Ireland), alleged homosexual orgies among the staff at Dublin Castle, the seat of the British government's administration in Ireland until 1922. Following a failed libel action, a number of members of the administration were convicted of participating in male homosexual acts.

Allegations
In 1884, "Screaming" William O'Brien accused Gustavus (George) C. Cornwall, head of the General Post Office in Ireland, of being a homosexual. In a subsequent 5-day libel action, witnesses detailed Cornwall's homosexual relationships, in areas including the Botanical Gardens, with soldiers and his "duchess" nickname. O'Brien won the case, triggering both celebration amongst Irish Nationalists in Dublin and across the country, and a crackdown on homosexual activity by the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Indictees
Amongst those charged with conspiracy to commit gross indecency was Martin Oranmore Kirwan (1847–1904), a captain in the Royal Irish Fusiliers who was the son of a County Galway Anglo-Irish landlord, following testimony from prostitute John Saul. Kirwan, nicknames "Lizzie" amongst the men involved, was acquitted on the grounds that the Crown did not produce sufficient evidence, but he resigned his commission.

Cornwall, who had fled to family in Scotland following his leave of absence from the GPO, was acquitted of buggery charges, but was relieved of his position.

Grocery and wine merchant James Pillar, known as 'Pa' or 'Papa', plead guilty to buggary, and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, the judge noting that Pillar was named in the trials of all the other men. He was released on licence on grounds of ill health in 1894.

Legacy
The scandal unearthed a thriving gay subculture in the city.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Kevin Dettmar has claimed that the scandal "paved the way" for the Labouchere Amendment, which made "gross indecency" a crime in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Talks on the scandal have been hosted by Heritage Ireland at the Castle.