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John Atherton (1598-1640), the son of an Anglican parson, was educated at Oxford and was hung for having a relationship with another man in 1636, whilst Lord Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. In 1640, he was accused with his steward and tithe proctor, John Childe. After the trial he was nearly murdered on his way from the bar to the gaol in Cork. On the day of execution, he read the morning service for his fellow prisoners, and then was placed in a carriage and taken through thronged streets to Dublin Castle and hanged on Gallows Green on 5th December 1640. John Childe was hanged shortly afterwards at Bandon Bridge.