Two members of the Irish security killed by the Provisional IRA more than 40 years ago have been honoured in Co Leitrim.
An Garda Síochána unveiled a ‘monument of remembrance’ in Ballinamore on Monday to remember trainee garda Gary Sheehan (23) and Private Patrick Kelly (36).
The two men were shot dead during the rescue of kidnapped businessman Don Tidey on December 16 1938.
Both men had been part of a joint Garda/Irish Defence Forces search party searching for Mr Tidey when they were confronted and killed by a Provisional IRA gang at Drumcornan Wood, Ballinamore.
Mr Tidey, the then managing director of Quinnsworth, was released safely after the incident after being held hostage for 23 days.
No-one has been brought to justice for the deaths of the two men.
The memorial outside Ballinamore Garda station was designed by artist Jackie McKenna and features two pillars, one representing An Garda Síochána and the other the Irish Defence Forces.
The circular stone in the middle represents the hollow void left by the deaths of the two men and the concentric ripples portraying the extended impact of their death..
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said:
“Today we honour their service to their country. Today we pay tribute to their bravery and courage.
“Today their sacrifice is etched in stone, just as their loss is etched in our hearts and minds.
“They paid an eternal price, and so it is right and just that their memories are eternally recognised here in Ballinamore.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was joined at today's unveiling in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim by Minister of State at the...
Posted by An Garda Síochána on Monday 16 December 2024
Justice Minister James Browne said: “The loss of a Garda or a member of our Defence Forces is a tragic and lifelong loss for their family, but it is also felt painfully across both organisations and indeed by the community as a whole.
Today, in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, we honoured the memory of two brave men, Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly, who tragically lost their lives in service to the State 41 years ago.
— James Browne TD (@JamesBrowneTD) December 16, 2024
I had the privilege of unveiling a monument at Ballinamore Garda Station (1/3) pic.twitter.com/nkhBROzu5d
“While, thankfully, it is a relatively rare occurrence, I know how deeply this tragedy has been felt by all those who served with Gary and Patrick – all down the years – to this very day.”
Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy of the Irish Defence Forces said: “The ripples in the stone beside me continue to spread out and are very evocative of what we are here today to remember.
“The families have demonstrated remarkable resilience since 1983. In the tradition of remembrance, we continue to honour the memories of Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly.”
