Many local Irish Newspapers are available on the website www.unison.ie
The Offaly Independent 24th April Page 10 has a History & Memories section that tells about murders in Clonmacnois that took place in December 1749 when three men, two women and a boy were apprehended on suspicion of robbing and murdering Bryan Kenny and of shooting Bryans wife in one of her thighs at the same time of which she has since, it is said, died.
The three men were condemned for robbing and murdering Bryan Kenny at Sevenchurches and executed on April 6th 1750 at that place. One of them to be hanged in chains. Two of their wives, accomplices, a boy, to be transported.
Story copied from old Dublin newspapers by the late Malachy Moran who was born near Moate and Malachy died in 1955