Death of Michael Leahy

Michael Leahy was a child who died by drowning in 1826 in County Kerry, Ireland. Leahy was four years old at the time of his death. He was believed by some in his community to have been a changeling and the drowning was the result of an attempt to cure him.

Ann Roche was indicted for Leahy's murder and tried in Tralee. Roche was described by the London Morning Post as being "an old woman of very advanced age". She claimed to have supernatural abilities and healing skills. She ordered two people to bathe the boy in the river Flesk every morning. The two bathed him for three mornings. On the third morning he was held under the water for longer than usual and died.