Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice

Request a Monarch's pardon for Dic Penderyn.

Closed 1,545 signatures

What the petition asks

In 1831, an innocent young man was convicted and hanged, despite overwhelming doubt surrounding the case against him. We call upon the government to put right a wrong that has existed for 189 years.
"O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd." (O Lord, this is injustice.) Were the final words of Dic Penderyn, before being executed for a crime he didn't commit, the stabbing and wounding a soldier in the skirmishes between the starving workers of Merthyr Tudful and armed soldiers sent in to quell the Merthyr Rising of 1831. A key witness later admitted to lying under oath then the real assailant confessed to the crime on his death bed. 189 yrs on, the original injustice is perpetuated by the lack of a pardon.

Timeline

3 Sep 2020 Petition opened for signatures
3 Mar 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 1,545
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 3 Sep 2020
Closed 3 Mar 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.