Frank Lawless

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Frank J. Lawless (Próinsias Laighléis) (1871 or 1872 – 16 April 1922) was Sinn Féin member (Teachta Dála) of the Dáil Éireann for Dublin County North, 1919-1922. He was a farmer at Saucerstown, Swords, Co. Dublin, and a member of a widely connected North County family identified with the National movement. He was an early member of Sinn Féin and of the Gaelic League. In the general election of December 1918, he was elected as part of the Sinn Féin landslide, defeating the Nationalist J. J. Clancy who had sat for the County Dublin North seat since 1885, by 9,138 to 4,428.

Frank Lawless took part in the Easter Rising of 1916, being second in command under Thomas Ashe in the fight at Ashbourne, County Meath. Two of his sons were also combatants on that occasion. As a result he was condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted to 10 years penal servitude. He was imprisoned at Lewes with Harry Boland. He was released in the general amnesty of 1917. He was again arrested in connection with the “German Plot” and was confined in Usk prison. He was paroled to permit him to take part in the 1918 election, was present at the declaration at Balbriggan but returned to Usk prison on the same day. After his release from Usk he was interned in Ballykinlar Camp.

Like the other Sinn Féin members, Lawless did not take his seat at Westminster but took part in the revolutionary First Dáil. He was re-elected to the Second Dáil, 1921-22 for the new County Dublin constituency. He was one of the majority of 64-57 who voted in favour of ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in the critical debate of January 7, 1922. He died three months later at the age of 50 from injuries received when the pony trap in which he was riding was accidentally upset. He was buried with full military honours. He was married with six sons and two daughters.