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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/O'Toole, Adam Duff

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1429384Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 42 — O'Toole, Adam Duff1895Thomas Olden

O'TOOLE, ADAM DUFF (d. 1327), reputed heretic, son of Walter Duff, a member of a tribe occupying a mountainous district in the county of Wicklow, appears to have adopted after 1320 views similar to those afterwards held by Wiclifs followers. He was prosecuted, and, whatever may have been his real opinions, 'his offence was aggravated by a charge of horrid and senseless blasphemy' (Leland). It was said that he denied the incarnation and the doctrine of the Trinity, aspersed the character of the Blessed Virgin, denied the resurrection of the dead, said the scriptures were fables, and that the apostolic see was guilty of falsehood. Being tried for these offences, he was found guilty and pronounced a heretic and a blasphemer, and ordered to be burnt alive. The sentence was carried out in 1327, when he was publicly burnt at Le Hogges, a mound which was situated near the site of the church of St. Andrew in Dublin, the name being derived from the Norwegian haugr, a mound.

[The Chartularies of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin, Rolls edit. ii. 366; Leland's Hist, of Ireland, i. 287; Holinshed's Chronicle, s. a. 1327; Webb's Compendium of Irish Biography.]