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Gardaí Renew Appeal 50 Years On From Belturbet Bombing

Wednesday, 19 October 2022 09:30

A 16 year old boy from Offaly lost his life in the incident.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information on the 50th anniversary of the Belturbet Bombing.

16 year old Patrick Stanley from Clara, Co. Offaly was one of the bombings two young victims.

A car bomb exploded on Farrelly’s Bar and McGowan’s Drapery on Main Street, Belturbet, Co. Cavan at 10.28 on the night of December 28th 1972.

Patrick and 15 year old Geraldine O'Reilly, of Drumacon, Belturbet, were killed instantly, while eight more people were injured.

Following a review of the investigation 50 years on, gardaí say they've identified a number of lines of inquiry.

A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room established at Ballyconnell Garda Station in Co. Cavan.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the bombing to contact Ballyconnell Garda Station on 049 952 5580, the Garda confidential free-phone line on 1800 666 111, or Crimestoppers 1800 250025.

16 year old Patrick Stanley, whose parents were Teresa and Joe, was one of ten siblings.

A keen hurler, Gaelic footballer and soccer player, Paddy had recently won an All-Star award for Gaelic football with his school, Árd Scoil Ciarán.

He had applied for a cadetship in the Army and, at the time of his murder, was temporarily employed by local businessman, Pat Jennings as a helper on a Calor Gas delivery lorry.

On 28th December 1972, there had been a problem with the lorry; he and the driver decided to stay in Belturbet overnight.

When the bomb exploded, Paddy was in the public phone kiosk on the Main Street, trying to telephone his parents to tell them he would not be home.

Geraldine O’Reilly, who was 15 years of age and from Drumacon, Staghall, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, was survived by her parents, Mary Kate and Joseph and seven siblings at the time.

Geraldine was the youngest of her family and had completed her Group Certificate examination the previous June, gaining six honours and intended taking up a career in nursing.

She had come into town with her brother Anthony to get food from a local restaurant.

She was in the restaurant, when the bomb car, which was parked directly opposite, exploded resulting in Geraldine sustaining fatal injuries.

Justice for the Forgotten / Pat Finucane Centre has also released a statement on the 50th anniversary of the bombing, which it describes as a "no-warning loyalist bomb attack".

In a statement to Midlands 103, they said;

"Together with the O'Reilly and Stanley families, we welcome whole-heartedly the decision of An Garda Síochána, Monaghan, to initiate a new investigation into the Belturbet bombing, which occurred on 28 December 1972.

"Geraldine O'Reilly (15), Belturbet and Paddy Stanley (16), Clara, Co. Offaly, lost their lives in this no-warning loyalist bomb attack. We have supported the two families for almost 20 years and, at last, we have this very significant and positive development in the case."

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