Richard Pyne

His father was probably the Nicholas Pyne who was a key witness for the prosecution at the trial of Florence Newton for witchcraft held at Youghal in 1661.

During the serious disturbances in Munster in 1598, he saved himself by a headlong flight back to England, but was later accused of secretly helping the Irish rebels, although there is no evidence for this.

[1] Although he was willing to accept office under the Roman Catholic King James II, he was himself a strong Protestant and a Whig in politics, and was later a supporter of the Revolution of 1688.

[6] In 1688 he quarrelled sharply with Justin MacCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel, one of James II's most influential Irish generals, but later denied that he had fought a duel with him.

The decision to appoint Pyne instead may reflect Osborne's growing unpopularity with his political superiors, who removed him from office the following year for gross insubordination.

[9] As Chief Justice he clashed with the powerful cleric William King, Bishop of Derry and future Archbishop of Dublin, who accused him of interfering in Church affairs.

[1] In 1703 he bought Blarney Castle, but sold it a few months later, apparently on the basis of a rumour (unfounded as it turned out) that the dispossessed owners, the MacCarthys, were about to recover it.

[14] In 1698, the Irish-born author and publisher John Dunton who was on a visit to Dublin, gave a favourable picture of most of the Irish judiciary, including Pyne, describing them as "men whose reputation is such that no one complains of them".

Mogeely, County Cork, present day. The Pyne family were the main landowners here, and built Mogeely Castle, which no longer stands, apart from a few traces