John Francis (known as Fran) is recorded as being 20 yrs of age at the time of the Rising and residing at 80 Prussia Street Dublin. He joined the Irish Volunteers at its inception at the Rotunda Rink in 1913. He was also a member of Na Fianna Eireann where he got his early training from Commandant Sean Heuston. He took part in the Howth Gun Running 1914. He mobilised Easter Monday and marched behind Sean Heuston and his small unit to the Mendicity Institution on Ushers Island. He remained here enduring some heavy bombardment until the surrender on Wednesday of Easter week. He was taken to Arbour Hill and court-martialled in Richmond Barracks then moved to Kilmainham Gaol. He was sentenced to death commuted to 3 years and removed to Mountjoy until on the 11th of May he was handed over to Military Escort for conveyance to Portland Prison. Later while being transferred to Lewes he became ill and collapsed. He was taken to the Prison Hospital but was still made to work here. He was offered a conditional pardon which he declined. He was later transferred to Crooksling Sanatorium where he remained until the General Amnesty of June 1917. He then spent a number of months in Newcastle Sanatorium trying to recover his health but returned home and entered Jervis St. Hospital.
When he left Hospital he returned to his parents’ home where he died on the 29th of May 1918. His death certificate records his age as 22 at time of death. His funeral on June 3rd was very large and representative, the Dublin Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and other national societies participating. The guard of honour was supplied by D Coy 1st Batt. and the firing party consisted of comrades from the Mendicity, including Liam Staines who died just 5 months later.
John Francis Cullen was laid to rest in the Martyrs’ Plot at Glasnevin Cemetery.
Tá sé luaite go raibh John Francis (Fran) Cullen 20 bhliain d’aois aimsir Éirí Amach 1916 agus go raibh sé ina chónaí ag 20 Sráid na Prúise, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba bhall de Na Fianna Éireann é a fuair a bhuntraenáil ó Seán Heuston. Chláraigh sé in Óglaigh na hÉireann nuair a bunaíodh é i Rinc an Rotunda i 1913. Bhí baint aige le tabhairt i dtír na ngunnaí ón Asgard i mBinn Éadair in Iúil 1914. Shlóg sé Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, agus mháirseáil sé i ndiaidh Heuston agus a aonad beag go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir. D’fhan sé ansin faoi tréan-lámhach na bpiléar go dtí an géilleadh, Céadaoin na Cásca, 26 Aibreán. Tógadh é go dtí Príosún Chnoc an Arbhair. Cuireadh cúirt airm air i nDún Richmond agus tógadh é go dtí Príosún Chill Mhaighneann. Daoradh chun báis é ach laghdaíodh an bhreith go 3 bhliain i dteannta daoroibre. Seoladh é go dtí Príosún Mhuinseo agus ar an 11 Bealtaine cuireadh é, faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata, go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana. Níos déanaí, nuair a bhí sé ar a shlí go dtí Príosún Lewes, Sussex Thoir, Sasana, d’éirigh sé tinn agus thit sé i bhfanntais. Tógadh é go dtí ospidéal an Phríosúin ach bhí air obair a dhéanamh ansin. Tairgeadh maithiúnas coinníollach dó ach dhiúltaigh sé é. Níos déanaí aistríodh é go dtí Sanatóir Chnoc Slinne, Co Átha Cliath, áit ar fhan sé go dtí an Pardún Ginearálta i Meitheamh 1917. Chaith sé cúpla mí i Sanatóir An Chaisleán Nua, Co Cill Mhantáin, chun biseach a chur ar a shláinte ach d’fhill sé abhaile agus chuaigh sé isteach in Ospidéal Shráid Jervis. Nuair a d’fhág sé an t-ospidéal d’fhill sé abhaile go dtí teach a thuismitheoirí. Fuair sé bás ansin, 29 Bealtaine 1918. De réir a dheimhniú báis bhí sé 22 bhliain d’aois nuair a d’éag sé. Bhí a shochraid, 3 Meitheamh, an-mhór agus d’fhreastal daoine ó gach aicme uirthi, Óglaigh Átha Cliath, agus baill de Chumann na mBan agus eagraíochtaí náisiúnta eile san áireamh. Sholáthair Complacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, an Garda Onóra agus b’as a chomrádaithe ón Institiúid an Déirceachais (Liam Staines, a fuair bás 5 mhí ina dhiaidh, ina measc) an mheitheal lámhaigh. Cuireadh John Francis Cullen i bPlásán na Mairtíreach, Reilig Ghlas Naíon.
Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916*.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: DP2389 (gan dáta breithe luaite sa chomhad).
The Catholic Bulletin (eagrán: Nollaig 1918).
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