Patrick O’Dowd was 57-years-old and a builder’s labourer from Buckingham Street in Dublin’s inner city. When the firing started Patrick made for the seven-foot high wall that separated Croke Park from the Belvedere College sports grounds on the other side.

Having scaled the wall, those trying to escape would brave the 20-foot drop down the other side. As the crowds streamed over the wall, Patrick stopped to help people up. One newspaper report the following day recalled a man sitting on the wall pulling people up.

An ex-soldier described Patrick pulling him over and dropping him down the other side. As the soldier hit the ground, Patrick landed on top of him a few moments later, his face covered in blood. He was buried in Glasnevin cemetery.