The Irish National Invincibles was a secret society formed in 1881, with connections to but independent of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Their aim was to remove the country of tyrants. They targeted Thomas Henry Burke, Permanent Under Secretary, in the Phoenix Park in May 1882. With Burke at the time was the Chief Secretary for Ireland Lord Frederick Cavendish.  Both men were knifed to death.

Five men were hanged at Kilmainham Jail for the killings between May and June 1883. They were: Joe Brady, Daniel Curley, Tim Kelly (19 years of age), Thomas Caffrey and Michael Fagan. The principle witness was the informer James Carey who was given passage to South Africa but was shot on board ship by Patrick O'Donnell. O'Donnell was brought back to England and hanged in December 1883.