A letter written to a Longford man by Roger Casement from his condemned cell in Penton ville Prison, London, has resurfaced after 83 years.
The circumstances which moved the Irish patriot to write the letter are almost as interesting as the letter itself, which is now being kept in Essex, England.
The late Jack Kelly was a bookmaker who was on his way to Mallow, Co Cork, and was awaiting his train connection at Limerick Junction in April 1916.
Mr Kelly, a native of Dublin Street, Longford, was one of few people on the platform when he saw a posse of eight to 10 Royal Irish Constabulary men beating a handcuffed prisoner with their fists and rifle butts. According to Johnny Kelly, Jack's son, his father approached the inspector in charge of the party and asked him to leave the prisoner in peace. He was told to "bugger off".
This, according to his son, was the wrong approach to take to Jack Kelly, who decided to intervene and had three of four of the constables down before he was felled by blows from rifle butts.
Luckily for Jack, a British officer, who was also on the platform, drew his pistol and ordered the RIC men to back off.
"They wanted to shoot my father as they said he was trying to rescue the prisoner. The officer managed to save my father and brought him off to a local public house where his wounds were dressed," said Johnny in an interview with the Longford Leader.
He said the British officer then purchased a bottle of brandy, gave some to Jack and brought the rest to the prisoner who was being put on the train to Dublin.
A few days later Jack realised the prisoner was none other than Roger Casement, who had been captured on Banna Strand in Kerry and was on his way to London to be tried for treason for bringing guns into Ireland for the 1916 Rising.
Some time later Jack received a letter from Pentonville Prison which said: "My Dear Mr Kelly, I got your name from the policemen here at the Prison. They have been most correct in their treatment of me not like our own Irish Police Force, who are akin to a bunch of savages.
"Now I want to thank you and the British Officer who came to my aid at Limerick Junction.
"As you may know from the papers I have been sentenced to hang for so called Treason. I am not afraid to die, to join Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmett, and hope that my death may one day help to make our country free.
"I have no doubt in my mind that with men like your own good self that will come to pass.
"I have also written to the young British Officer to thank him but have been told that he has returned to France. His name is Lieutenant Clark of the Royal Artillery.
"It's strange that the only kindness I received since my capture was from an Englishman and a Longfordman.
"Goodbye Mr Kelly, will see you in heaven.
"God Save Ireland, Yours Very Sincerely, Roger Casement. "P.S: They have even taken my title, but I never wanted it."
As a result of his intervention at Limerick Junction, Jack Kelly was harassed by the RIC in Longford and was eventually forced to go to sea. He found a place on a ship called the Blarney Castle, which had a reputation for running guns to the IRA.
His son Johnny had a chance meeting during the second World War with Maj Clark, who told him in greater detail about the incident and described Jack Kelly as an "extremely modest man".