The evidence recorded against Con Colbert at his court martial was contained on less than a single page, documents from the British National Archives show.
The file on his trial, on May 4th, 1916, held in the archives at Kew, London, contains only six pages.
During Easter Week, Colbert fought at Watkin’s Brewery, Jameson’s Distillery and Marrowbone Lane. The 27-year-old, from Limerick, was the leader of Na Fianna Éireann and ensured that Fianna scouts joined the Irish Volunteers.
He was court-martialed before three judges: Col Douglas Sapte, Maj William James and Maj David Frew. He was charged with taking part in an armed rebellion and waging war against His Majesty the King, “with the intention and for the purpose of assisting the enemy”.
The summary of the evidence in his case was contained on a single page and did not even fill it. There was one witness against him. Maj JC Armstrong, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, said on April 30th he was present at Bride Street and Patrick’s Park when the British troops were fired upon. The accused was one of a party which surrendered about 5pm. He was dressed in a Volunteer captain’s uniform and was armed. “These officers were armed with pistols or revolvers. These men who surrendered had come from the direction in which firing had taken place,” he said.
Colbert offered no witnesses and told the court martial: “I have nothing to say.” Someone had underlined with pencil the evidence of him having been in a captain’s uniform.
A certificate of proceedings, said he had been “duly tried” and sentenced. And Gen John Maxwell, in command of the British forces in Ireland, confirmed his death sentence. He was executed, along with Sean Heuston and Michael Mallin, on May 8th.
The last page within the file shows a series of signatures. One is dated May 29th, 1916, another says “Capt GC Clay, War Office”, dated January 11th, 1917. There is a date stamp of May 26th, 1916, with the words “Field General CM” below it. And in a clear copperplate, “Civilian, Concobar O’Colbaird, Dublin, 4th May, 1916”. The word civilian is underlined.
