Dr Sinclair Finlay was an Irish-born doctor who dedicated his life to serving the communities of Gloucester and Stroud as a Government Medical Officer.1 He was born at Brackley House in County Cavan, Ireland – the same house where, decades later, his older brother met a violent end.2
In the early hours of Sunday 12 June 1921, Brackley House was raided by around 20 armed men. The household of retired Church of Ireland Dean, John Finlay, was awoken and forced outside. Eight members were marched a mile away, while 80-year-old Finlay remained behind. The house was then set alight.
When the others returned hours later, they found John Finlay dead—lying in bloodied nightclothes on the lawn. His murder shocked the local community and prompted questions in the British House of Lords.
At the time, Ireland was in the grip of the War of Independence—a violent struggle between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and British forces. Though John Finlay was known as a kind and generous man, it’s believed the IRA targeted Brackley House due to rumours it would be used as a British military barracks.3
The story made news across Australia in the following days, but no newspaper connected the victim to Dr Sinclair Finlay – who must have received this news with disbelief and sorrow.4
Author: Janine Roberts
Link to story of Dr Sinclair Finlay https://midcoaststories.com/2025/07/port-stephens-sinclair-finlay/
References:
1 SMH, 2 April 1887, 8.
2 Dungog Chronicle, 8 February 1927, 2.
3 UK Parliament hansard: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1922-05-25/debates/12bd84ab-6975-45c0-9965-766e9e467839/MurderOfDeanFinlay
4 Newcastle Sun, 15 June 1921, 1.
