he wished, to make an application whereby he might have avoided the capital sentence. When the court resumed, Kerins said: "You could have adjourned it for six years as far as I am concerned, as my attitude towards this Court will always be the same." He thus deprived himself of the right to give evidence, to face cross examination, or to call witnesses. After Kerins' fingerprints were identified on the bicycle which was left at the crime scene, he was found guilty, and sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out by British chief executioner Albert Pierrepoint, who was regularly employed for such occasions by the Irish State, at Mountjoy Prison on 1 December 1944, in spite of numerous calls for clemency. Archie Doyle, who is also alleged to have been in command of the IRA hit squad during the killing of O'Brien, died in 1980. See also List of Irish police officers killed in the line of duty References External links Garda Siochana Roll of Honour Detective Sergeant Denis O'Brien – From the Official Website for the Garda Siochana Irish Republican Army (1919–1922) members Irish Republican Army (1922–1969) members Garda Síochána officers 1942 deaths People of the Irish Civil War (Anti-Treaty side) Garda Síochána officers killed in the line of duty Deaths by firearm in Ireland 1899 births 1942 murders in the Republic of Ireland