British courts martial that were conducted in secret initially ordered ninety rebels to be executed.
Seventy-five sentences were commuted to life imprisonment; fourteen were confirmed by General Maxwell: P.H. Pearse, MacDonagh, Clarke (3rd May); Plunkett, W. Pearse, Daly, O’Hanrahan (4th May); MacBride (5th May); Ceannt, Mallin, Heuston, Colbert (8th May); Connolly, MacDiarmada (12th May). Martial law was applied across Ireland: 3,500 ‘Sinn Feiners’ were arrested.
