On 25 March 2026, the Government of Ireland adopted a blanket policy excluding all pre-1922 convictions from consideration under the Presidential pardon process, regardless of what credible historical evidence may come to light.

That decision raises a simple but important question:

If the Government believes Presidential pardons should no longer be available for pre-1922 convictions, who is responsible for independently reviewing credible historical evidence when it comes to light?

This campaign began with my petition to the Government of Ireland seeking a posthumous Presidential pardon for my third great-grandfather, Michael Flynn (Department of Justice Reference DJE-MO-09081-2026). What began as one family’s search for justice has grown into a campaign calling for an independent review process for credible historical evidence relating to pre-1922 convictions.

In explaining the new policy, the Government has argued that the modern Irish State should not recommend Presidential pardons for convictions imposed before 1922 because those convictions arose under British administration. Yet many of those cases were investigated by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), prosecuted before courts sitting in Ireland, heard by judges and juries in Ireland, and carried out in Irish prisons.

Whether or not the Government believes a Presidential pardon is appropriate, should credible historical evidence be denied any independent review solely because of the date of a conviction?

Today, genealogy, DNA testing, digitized archives, and historical research are reconnecting millions of people with their Irish ancestry. Families around the world are uncovering documents and evidence that previous generations could never have accessed. When credible new evidence comes to light, there should be a fair and independent process to examine it.

This petition is not asking for automatic pardons. It is asking for something more fundamental: the establishment of an independent review process that considers credible historical evidence on its own merits, regardless of whether a conviction occurred before or after 1922.

Before his execution in January 1883, my third great-grandfather, Michael Flynn, declared that he was “as innocent as the child unborn” and that he hoped Ireland was listening.

More than 140 years later, I believe Ireland should still be listening.

This issue extends far beyond my own family. Today, an estimated 70 to 80 million people around the world claim Irish ancestry. As descendants reconnect with Ireland through genealogy, DNA testing, digitized archives, and historical research, many are uncovering credible historical evidence that previous generations could never have accessed.

Every family deserves to know that such evidence can receive fair and independent consideration, regardless of when a conviction occurred.

By signing this petition, you are not deciding whether any individual conviction was right or wrong.

You are supporting a simple principle:

Credible historical evidence deserves an independent review.

They were silenced then. Don’t silence the evidence now.