Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6364Bombing causing death · Co. Cavan · 28 Dec 1972

Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death investigation

A 100lb bomb concealed in a red Ford Escort exploded on Main Street, Belturbet, Co Cavan at 10.28pm on 28 December 1972, killing 16-year-old Patrick Stanley from Clara, Co Offaly, and 15-year-old Geraldine O'Reilly from Belturbet, and injuring eight others. On the same night, bombs also exploded in Clones, Co Monaghan, and near Pettigo, Co Donegal, and Patrick McCabe of Clones died on 4 January 1973 after falling from a roof damaged in the Clones blast. Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for the attacks, but no one has ever been convicted. In March 2026, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress had been made in the investigation and that new lines of inquiry had been opened.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 100lb bomb concealed in a red Ford Escort exploded on Main Street, Belturbet, Co Cavan, killing two teenagers and injuring eight others.
  • Patrick Stanley, 16, from Clara, Co Offaly, a gas delivery assistant, and Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, from Belturbet, were killed in the blast; Patrick McCabe of Clones died on 4 January 1973 after falling from a roof damaged in the Clones bomb.
  • On the same night, a bomb in a blue Morris 1100 (reg 431 LZ) exploded in Clones, Co Monaghan, and a bomb exploded near Pettigo, Co Donegal.
Where
The explosion occurred outside Farrelly's Bar and McGowan's Drapery on Main Street, Belturbet, Co Cavan.
When
The bomb exploded at 10.28pm (one source gives 10.38pm) on 28 December 1972.
Weapon
The device was a 100lb bomb hidden in a parked red Ford Escort.
Investigation
  • Gardaí reopened the investigation and a dedicated team under a Senior Investigating Officer is based at Ballyconnell Garda Station.
  • In December 2022, photofits and physical descriptions of up to nine suspects were released as part of a public appeal for information.
  • In March 2024, a file on the case was understood to be near completion and ready to go to the DPP.
  • In March 2026, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress had been made and new lines of inquiry had been opened.
  • An RTÉ documentary in 2020 revealed that British intelligence about a potential suspect was not passed to Irish authorities, and related documents are sealed until 2057.
Other details
  • Loyalist paramilitaries assisted by British Intelligence Services have been blamed for the attack.
  • No one has ever been convicted in relation to the Belturbet bombing.
93 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatEight other persons were injured in the Belturbet bombing. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatA bomb in a blue Morris 1100 exploded in Fermanagh Street, Clones, Co Monaghan at 10.01 p.m. on 28 December 1972. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatTwo men were seriously injured in the Clones bombing. (leitrimobserver.ie, donegallive.ie)
  • whatPatrick McCabe died on 4 January 1973 after falling from a roof that was damaged in the Clones bomb. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatOne female was injured in the Mullnagoad bombing. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatA girl in the rear of the Blue Ford Cortina is described as 18-19 years old, fairly tall, with blonde hair. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatAt 10.01pm a bomb in a blue Morris 1100 exploded on Fermanagh Street, Clones, seriously injuring two men. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Pettigo bomb had been left beside the pub in a container (donegallive.ie)
  • whatOne female was injured in the Pettigo bombing (donegallive.ie)
  • whatPatrick McCabe from Clones died on 4 January 1973 after falling from a roof damaged in the Clones bomb (donegallive.ie)
  • whatPatrick McCabe's death left a widow and eight children without a father (donegallive.ie)
  • whatEight other people were injured in the Belturbet bombing (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe Clones bomb vehicle, a blue Morris 1100 registration 431 LZ, was stolen from a car park in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh between 6:30pm and 7:35pm on 28 December 1972 (donegallive.ie)
  • whatA person missing some fingers was observed driving the stolen blue Morris 1100 in Northern Ireland on 28 December 1972 (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThree people including two teenagers lost their lives across the three bombings (donegallive.ie)
  • whatEight other people were injured in the explosion. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick was working as an assistant delivering gas cylinders to businesses. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe shop they were due to deliver to was closed, so they had to stay the night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick walked to the post office after the phone at a shop was busy. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA car had been left primed and waiting on the main street before the explosion. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGeraldine was buying chips at the time of the explosion while her older brother waited in the car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe bomb was contained in a red Ford Escort. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatEight other people were injured. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe shop they were due to make a delivery to was closed, so they had to stay the night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA car had been left primed and waiting on the main street. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGeraldine was buying chips at the time while her older brother waited for her in the car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWreaths were laid at a bronze sculpture depicting the two teenagers on Main Street, Belturbet. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick Stanley was a gas delivery helper who had gone to a phone booth to ring home to tell his family he was staying the night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGeraldine O'Reilly was in a chip shop while her brother waited for her in a car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA bomb left primed in a red Ford Escort exploded at 10.28pm killing both youths. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA number of other people were seriously injured in the blast. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe bombing killed two teenagers and injured dozens of others. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGeraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley died in the blast. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA no-warning bomb exploded on the main street of Cavan town in 1972. (rte.ie)
  • whatTwo people were killed in the bombing. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe blue Morris 1100 (registration 431 LZ) was stolen from a car park in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh between 6.30pm and 7.35pm on 28 December 1972. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whereOn the same night, other bombs exploded in Clones, Co Monaghan, and near Pettigo, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe bombing took place in Belturbet, County Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe bomb exploded on the main street of Cavan town. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe Belturbet bomb exploded at 10.28 p.m. on 28 December 1972. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whenA car bomb exploded in Belturbet, Co Cavan, on the night of 28 December 1972. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe Clones bomb exploded at 10:01pm on 28 December 1972 (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe explosion occurred at 10.28pm on 28 December 1972. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenFifty years had passed since the bombing at the time of the renewed appeal. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe bomb exploded at 10.28 pm on 28 December 1972. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe 50th anniversary of the Belturbet bombing was commemorated on Wednesday 28 December 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe bomb exploded at 10.38pm on 28 December 1972. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe device was a 100lbs bomb hidden in a parked Ford Escort. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationChief Superintendent Alan McGovern made a public appeal for information on 19 December 2022. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationThe appeal seeks to identify the driver of the stolen red Ford Escort as depicted in a photofit compiled at the Aghalane Bridge checkpoint on 28 December 1972. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationThe appeal seeks to identify the driver of a Blue Ford Cortina registration BIA 477 stolen from Main Street Belturbet. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationThe registration plates from the lagoon blue Ford Cortina BIA 477 have never been recovered. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationA man with missing fingers was observed driving a stolen blue Morris 1100 in Northern Ireland on 28 December 1972. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationA dedicated investigation team is based at Ballyconnell Garda Station. (leitrimobserver.ie, donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation team is based at Ballyconnell Garda station under a senior investigating officer. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí have released photofit images of some of the suspects as part of a major drive to catch the bombers. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAn RTÉ documentary broadcast in 2020 revealed British intelligence about a potential suspect was not passed on to the Irish authorities. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe minutes of a secret meeting and other intelligence documents held by the British state are sealed until 2057. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA photofit was created of a man driving a stolen red Ford Escort based on details noted at a checkpoint on Aghalane Bridge. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Blue Ford Cortina, registration BIA 477, was stolen from Belturbet on the day of the bombing and the plates have never been recovered. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe blue Morris 1100 with registration 431 LZ contained the Clones bomb and was stolen from a car park in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, between 6.30pm and 7.35pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationChief Superintendent Alan McGovern of the Cavan/Monaghan/Louth Garda Division issued the renewed appeal on 19 December 2022 (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAssistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn appealed to people in Northern Ireland to consider the appeal (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationChief Superintendent Alan McGovern of the Cavan/Monaghan/Louth Garda Division made a public appeal for information on 19 December 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA dedicated investigation team under a Senior Investigating Officer is based at an incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAssistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn appealed to people in the Republic and Northern Ireland to come forward with information. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationChief Superintendent Alan McGovern of the Cavan/Monaghan/Louth Garda Division made a public appeal for information. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAssistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn appealed to the public in the Republic and Northern Ireland to come forward with information. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA dedicated investigation team under a Senior Investigating Officer has been established at an incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation team can be contacted at Ballyconnell Garda Station 049 9525580, the Garda confidential line 1800 666111, Crimestoppers 1800 250025 or Crimestoppers Northern Ireland 0800 555 111. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationIn October, the Garda announced that a number of lines of inquiry are being investigated after a review of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe female in the car is described as 18-19 years old, fairly tall, blonde hair coming down over shoulders, parted in the centre, sharp featured, pale complexion, good looking, very light eyebrows, long dark overcoat (maybe red), polo neck pullover. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí stated the man and woman in the car look like they could be related. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station, the Garda confidential line, or Crimestoppers. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA file on the case is understood to be near completion and ready to go to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have been trying to identify a man suspected of driving the car with the bomb in it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí made a public appeal for new information over a year before this article and received a positive response. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are working with the PSNI and Interpol. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí reopened the investigation into the bombing almost three and a half years ago. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress has been made in the investigation. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have opened a number of new lines of inquiry. (rte.ie)
  • chargeIt is understood Gardaí believe they have enough evidence to bring charges against some of those involved. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, John Paul Feeley, spoke at the wreath-laying ceremony. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherAssistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn appealed to the public, noting that 50 years have passed and families have suffered. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • otherLoyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for the attack in which eight people were also injured. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo one has ever been brought to justice for the bomb attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe anniversary of the bomb was marked with a special Mass in the chapel in Belturbet at 11am, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at 12pm at the site of the memorial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGeraldine's aunts Marie and Bernice McAleer worked as nurses in Monaghan hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGeraldine's eldest brother Michael was a teacher. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAnthony O'Reilly's daughter Caroline was to have her first birthday the day after the bomb. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLocal poet PJ Kennedy read a poem and music was provided by Isaac Scanlan at the event. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherLoyalist terrorists assisted by British Intelligence Services have always been blamed for the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNobody has ever been convicted in relation to the Belturbet bombing. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Mar2026
    Otherrte.ie, its first report
    Progress made in Belturbet bombing probe - Commissioner

    Follow-up on a 1972 bombing investigation, reported after a cross-border policing conference. No suspect, arrest or charge is mentioned. The article also covers cross-border legacy legislation.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reilly
  2. 7 Mar2024
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai close in on evil perpetrators of Belturbet bombing which killed two teens

    Historical case, not previously in the list. Article reports a Garda review with a file near completion for the DPP, but no charges have been brought and no suspects are named.

    victim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillyvictim, Patrick Stanley, 16Patrick Stanleysuspect, male
  3. 29 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Family of Offaly teenager killed in bomb blast attend memorial event in Belturbet

    Reports on the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Belturbet bombing, including details of the ceremony and speakers, and includes Gardaí's appeal for information with physical descriptions of the man and woman in the red Ford Escort.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillysuspect, 18, malesuspect, 18-19, female
  4. 28 Dec2022
    Otheririshmirror.ie, its first report
    'Do the right thing' - Man who lost sister in Belturbet appeals to bombers

    Personal appeal by Anthony O'Reilly on the 50th anniversary; confirms no one has been brought to justice; mentions Garda review in October opened new lines of inquiry; provides biographical details about Geraldine; anniversary Mass and wreath-laying ceremony held in Belturbet.

    victim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillyvictim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)
  5. 20 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Renewed call for information in relation to bombing which killed Offaly teenager

    Reports a renewed Garda appeal for information on the 50th anniversary of the bombing, including physical descriptions of two individuals of interest, statements from Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern and Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn, and contact details for the dedicated investigation team at Ballyconnell Garda Station.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reilly
  6. 19 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Renewed call for information in relation to bombing in Belturbet which killed Offaly teen

    This article reports a renewed public appeal for information in the Belturbet bombing investigation on 19 December 2022, 50 years after the incident. Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern described two individuals of interest (one in a DUNLOP jacket, one in a black jacket with bell-bottom trousers and gold watch), and Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn appealed to people in the Republic and Northern Ireland. A dedicated investigation team is based at Ballyconnell Garda Station.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reilly
  7. 19 Dec2022
    Otherdonegallive.ie, its first report
    Gardaí issue fresh appeal ahead of 50th anniversary of Pettigo bomb

    Renewed appeal for information ahead of 50th anniversary; includes photofits and physical descriptions of suspects from the Belturbet incident; Assistant Commissioner McElgunn specifically appeals to people in Northern Ireland; details the Clones bomb vehicle stolen from Enniskillen and a man with missing fingers seen driving it.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillyvictim, Patrick McCabe, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick McCabevictim, female
  8. 19 Dec2022
    Otheririshtimes.com, its first report
    Gardaí investigating 1972 Belturbet bombing that killed two teenagers release new details

    Releases photofit images and detailed physical descriptions of up to nine suspects, identifies stolen vehicles involved (red Ford Escort, Blue Ford Cortina BIA 477, blue Morris 1100 431 LZ), provides timings and locations of all three bombs on the night, references an RTÉ documentary revealing unshared British intelligence, and includes Chief Supt Alan McGovern's public appeal for witnesses.

    victim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillyvictim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleysuspect, malesuspect, 18, malesuspect, 18-19, femalesuspect, 20, malesuspect, 20, malesuspect, 25-28, malesuspect, 23-25, malesuspect, malesuspect, male
  9. 19 Dec2022
    Otherleitrimobserver.ie, first report
    Garda Síochána issues public appeal for information on Belturbet Bombing

    New public appeal issued 50 years after the bombing by Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern and Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn, seeking to identify the drivers of stolen vehicles, individuals present in Belturbet on the night, and the whereabouts of unrecovered registration plates. A dedicated investigation team is based at Ballyconnell Garda Station.

    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanleyvictim, Geraldine O'Reilly, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Geraldine O'Reillyvictim, Patrick McCabe, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick McCabe