Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan bombings.
In tonight’s episode of RTÉ One’s Crimecall Gardaí will make an appeal to the public for information about the night of December 28, 1972, when three bombs exploded after 10pm in three separate border towns – Pettigo in Donegal, Clones, Co. Monaghan, and Belturbet, Co. Cavan.
The car bomb that exploded outside Farrelly’s Bar and McGowan’s Drapery on Main Street, Belturbet, Co. Cavan killed two children – Patrick Stanley (16), of Clara, Co. Offaly, and Geraldine O’Reilly, (15), of Drumacon, Belturbet, Co. Cavan. The explosions caused multiple injuries across the region.
On Crimecall tonight, Gardaí and the family members of Patrick and Geraldine will appeal to the public for information to help solve these crimes.
Patrick Stanley was survived by his parents, the late Teresa and Joe, and nine siblings. A keen hurler, Gaelic footballer, and soccer player, Patrick had recently won an All-Star award for Gaelic football with his school, Árd Scoil Ciarán. Patrick was in Belturbet for work and had gone to the phone kiosk to ring home when the bomb exploded.
Geraldine O’Reilly was survived by her parents, Mary Kate and Joseph (both now deceased) and seven siblings. 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. Geraldine O’Reilly 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.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact the incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station 049 9525580, the Garda confidential line Free-phone 1800 666 111 or Crimestoppers 1800 250025.
Watch Crimecall tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.
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