42 years on, the IRA’s killing of Gardaí in Ballinamore

Today, marks the 42nd anniversary of the murder of two members of An Garda Síochána during the Don Tidey kidnapping in Derrada Woods outside Ballinamore in 1983.

Pte Patrick Kelly (36), a father of four from Moate, Co Westmeath, and Garda recruit Gary Sheehan (23) were killed by members of the IRA when they stumbled upon their hideout during the search for Don Tidey in Derrada Woods outside Ballinamore.

Don Tidey, the then director and chairman of Quinnsworth supermarket, was kidnapped by the IRA from his home on Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, on November 24, 1983.

This led to the largest manhunt in the history of the State, with thousands of Gardaí and Army personnel enlisted in the search.

Quinnsworth was owned by the Anglo-Canadian retail giant Associated British Foods. The Provisional IRA demanded £5 million for the release of Tidey.

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Kidnap-for-ransom was a tactic in vogue with the IRA at that time, as they had kidnapped Ben Dunne Jr, son of the founder of Dunne Stores, Ben Dunne Sr, two years previously and, before that, the Dutchman Tiede Herrema.

Tidey’s kidnappers were traced to a remote hillside wood outside Ballinamore, and the town was surrounded by a ring of steel.

Kelly and Sheehan were part of the search party that happened upon the IRA men who had Don Tidey in their custody. The captors opened fire on the Gardaí, and in the commotion of the shooting, Don Tidey managed to escape.

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In the aftermath, the IRA men escaped despite the huge number of Gardaí and military personnel present in the area. No one was ever convicted for the killing of the Gardaí.

Last year, a monument was unveiled in Ballinamore town to honour Pte Patrick Kelly and Garda recruit Gary Sheehan.