Investigation into Belturbet bombing which claimed life of Offaly teenager at 'critical stage'

A file on a fatal bombing case case which claimed the life of 16-year-old Patrick Stanley from Clara over 50 years ago is believed to be near completion and ready to go to the DPP after a Garda review of the bomb attack. 

Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, Staghall, Co Cavan and Patrick Stanley, pictured below, who was working as a gas delivery assistant, perished in the blast.

A 100lbs bomb concealed in a parked Ford Escort exploded in the town at 10.38pm on December 28, 1972.

Following the publication of an RTÉ investigates programme called ‘The Belturbet bomb; an atrocity that time forgot’, a review of the Belturbet bombing investigation was initiated on 3rd August 2021.

On completion of the review, and following consideration of the review report, on 19th September 2022, a Senior Investigating Officer was appointed to lead the investigation and an Incident Room was established at Ballyconnell Garda Station. 

Chief Superintendent of the Cavan Louth Monaghan Division, Alan McGovern confirmed this week that the investigation is reaching a "critical stage". 

"The investigation is progressing. We are liaising with our colleagues in the PSNI and other jurisdictions through Interpol as well," he said at the 2024 Cross Border Police Conference on Organised & Serious Crime. 

On 28 December 1972, sometime after 5pm the suspect car in the Belturbet explosion, a red Ford Escort, was stolen from outside the home of its owner in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.

A Garda check point was in operation on the border between Co. Fermanagh and Co. Cavan at Aghalane Bridge Customs Post. At approximately 9.05pm the red Ford Escort, approached the check point from Northern Ireland and was stopped by the Gardaí on duty. Unknown to the Gardaí, the red Ford Escort had been stolen from Enniskillen earlier that day.

The Ford Escort then proceeded to Main Street, Belturbet, when at 10.28 p.m a bomb contained within the car exploded outside Farrelly’s Bar and McGowan’s Drapery.

The garda on duty at the checkpoint gave a detailed description of the driver of the stolen Red Ford Escort, from which this photofit composite above was compiled.

At approximately 9.50pm, prior to the explosion, a Ford Cortina, was seen double-parked outside Hunt’s pharmacy on Main Street. It is believed that this was in fact a lagoon blue Ford Cortina registration number BIA 477 which was stolen from Main Street that night. On 2/3 January 1973, this car was found by the R.U.C. at Crumlin, Co. Antrim. It was bearing registration plates of another car.

The lagoon blue Ford Cortina, registration BIA 477 had been noticed initially on 31 December 1972. When it was still there two days later, the R.U.C. called in the British Army who carried out a controlled explosion. The car was subsequently destroyed by fire. 

The original registration plates for the lagoon blue Ford Cortina, registration BIA 477,which was stolen from Main Street, Belturbet have not been found to date and are subject of today’s appeal.