Denis Duggan
was a coachmaker
by trade, and lived at 21 Upper
Dominick Street, Dublin. He joined the Irish
Republican Brotherhood in 1861, and owing to the
active interest he displayed in the work of
organisation was soon in charge of one
of the largest circles in the city. He was one of the principal rescuers of the
Fenian Chief, James Stephens, from Richmond
Prison, which
was then situated on the
South Circular Road.
Was subsequently
arrested, but for want of convicting
evidence, he was released on condition that he
would leave the
country. He quietly returned a short
time before the
rising of March '67, and was second in
command of the
little party that captured the police
barrack at
Stepaside, and
Glencullen. Later escaped
to America, and
in 1867 was one of the Volunteers to
sail in the Catalpa for the rescue of the military Fenian
prisoners from Australia; amongst whom was the well-known writer and novelist,
John Boyle O'Reilly. He died in his native
city, and the public funeral accorded
to his remains was ample testimony of admiration and
respect for the memory of a
brave man.