Bridget Cleary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Bridget Boland 19 February 1869 Ballyvadlea, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 15 March 1895 (aged 26) Ballyvadlea, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Occupation | Dressmaker |
| Spouse | Michael Cleary (m. 1887–1895, her death) |
Bridget Cleary (née Boland; Irish: Bríd Uí Chléirigh; 19 February 1869 – 15 March 1895) was an Irish woman who was murdered by her husband in 1895. She was either immolated or her body was set on fire immediately after her death. The husband's stated motive was his belief that she had been abducted by fairies and replaced with a changeling, which he then killed. The gruesome nature of the case prompted extensive press coverage, and the trial was closely followed by newspapers across Ireland.