Roger Casement: Secrets of the Black Diaries

Page 1 of 7

• 1. Casement's fate
• 2. Forgery theories begin
• 3. Inconsistencies appear
• 4. The debate widens
• 5. Forensic testing
• 6. Chronology of Casement's life
• 7. Find out more
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Casement's fate

The renowned human rights campaigner, Sir Roger Casement, was hanged in 1916 for his involvement in the Irish Nationalist revolt in Dublin - the Easter Rising. His guilt was never seriously in doubt but the Black Diaries sealed Casement's fate. Within their pages are the explicit details that exposed him as a promiscuous homosexual. When selected extracts were shown to public figures and known sympathisers, most shrank back from the calls for clemency that could have saved Casement. He went to his death in disgrace.

'Such underhand tactics were always bound to arouse suspicions of foul play.'

The diary pages were distributed by the British authorities in a determined effort to ensure that Casement's execution would be unopposed. Such underhand tactics were always bound to arouse suspicions of foul play.

After Casement's death the diaries were retained by the Home Office and held in conditions of extraordinary secrecy, which only added to the atmosphere of mistrust. There has existed for many years now a widely held belief, particularly in Ireland, that all five diaries were forged.

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Published: 2002-01-01