Ireland Memorial to be held for two gardaí shot dead in 1924
On 6 May 1924, Garda John 'Jack' Murrin and Sergeant Thomas Griffin were fatally shot in Killonerry, Co Kilkenny, while sent to apprehend a suspect over a shooting of an unarmed garda there the previous day. Griffin died about 24 hours later and Murrin died five months later. The suspect is not identified in the sources, and no arrest, charge or court proceedings are reported. The latest development is a memorial Mass and commemorative plaque unveiling at St Joseph and St Conal Church, Bruckless, on Sunday 5 May 2024 at 2pm.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Garda John 'Jack' Murrin and Sergeant Thomas Griffin were fatally shot by a suspect on 6 May 1924.
- Griffin died from his injuries about 24 hours later, and Murrin died from his wounds five months later.
- Where
- The shooting took place in Killonerry, Co Kilkenny.
- When
- The shooting took place on 6 May 1924.
- Cause
- The two gardaí had been sent to apprehend a suspect for a shooting of an unarmed garda in Killonerry the previous day.
- Other details
- Griffin was from Greenmount, Cork city, and was stationed at Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.
- Murrin was born in 1898, had worked in the family business as a merchant, and served in the Irish Volunteers (1918-1922) before joining An Garda Síochána.
- A memorial Mass and commemorative plaque unveiling will be held at St Joseph and St Conal Church, Bruckless, on Sunday 5 May 2024 at 2pm.
- Investigation
- The suspect is not named in the sources, and no arrest is reported.
- Charges
- No charge against any suspect is reported.
- In court
- No court proceedings are reported.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBoth men were fatally shot by the suspect that day. (donegallive.ie)
- whatGriffin died from his injuries about 24 hours later, and Murrin died five months later. (donegallive.ie)
- whereMurrin and Griffin were fatally shot in Killonerry, Co Kilkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe earlier shooting of a garda took place in Killonerry, Co Kilkenny. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenThe shooting took place on 6 May 1924. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe two gardaí were on a mission on 6 May 1924. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeThe gardaí were sent to apprehend a suspect for a shooting the previous day at another unarmed garda in Killonerry. (donegallive.ie)
- causeBoth gardaí were fatally shot by the suspect that day. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationThe gardaí went to apprehend a suspect for a shooting on the previous day. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherGriffin was from Greenmount, Cork city, and was stationed at Carrick-on-Suir. (donegallive.ie)
- otherA Mass and commemorative plaque unveiling will be held at Bruckless to mark Murrin's death. (donegallive.ie)
- otherSergeant Thomas Griffin was from Greenmount, Cork city. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherSergeant Griffin died from his injuries about 24 hours later. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherGarda Murrin died from his wounds five months later. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherA Mass and unveiling of a commemorative plaque were planned for the memorial. (tipperarylive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2024Memorial to be held after incident in which Tipperary-based garda was killed
Commemorative article marking the 1924 killings of two gardaí. It gives no current investigation, arrest or court proceedings, and the suspect is not named.
victim, John Murrin, male, irish (judged from name)John Murrinvictim, Thomas Griffin, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Griffinsuspect - 30 Apr2024Bruckless memorial event for Donegal Garda killed in action 100 years ago
Adds the planned memorial Mass and plaque unveiling at St Joseph and St Conal Church, Bruckless, on Sunday 5 May, and gives Murrin's background and Griffin's origin.
victim, John 'Jack' Murrin, male, irish (judged from name)John 'Jack' Murrinvictim, Thomas Griffin, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Griffinsuspect