He was the Warden of Galway when the town surrendered to troops led by Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone on 26 July 1691.
In March 1838, workmen were carrying out repairs on the vaults and tombs near the main altar of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
According to a statement by the supervisor, Mr. Clare, "... members of the old families, the descendants of the Tribes, began to frequent the church.
Many of the by-standers stated that they had been broken off by one of the covering flags that broke and fell into the vault 100 years before this date."
Deceased members of Catholic tribal families were always allowed to be buried in the Collegiate Church.
For three days members of the Tribal families and inhabitants of the town and the surrounding villages pushed their way to stare into the vault.
McMahon, a Presbyterian, feared that as the local Catholics "held this relic sacred [they] would be likely to accuse him of the deed."
Mr. Clare went to Murray’s office, and had it confirmed that he did indeed have the key, but would only give it to his parish priest, Rev.
While Clare was seeking the key, crowds of people began to rush the church in the hope of witnessing a miracle.
Roch arrived and was so concerned at the large number present that he told them to return at two p.m. when he would replace the hand.
Mr. Clare’s statement finished by stating that: "“During the day the carpenter got a coffin made into which I put the body.