Thursday 29 October 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. 10674Murder · Co. Cavan · 28 Dec 1972

Progress made in Belturbet bombing investigation, Garda Commissioner says

A no-warning bomb exploded on the main street of Cavan town on 28 December 1972, killing two people: 16-year-old Patrick Stanley from Clara, Co Offaly, and 15-year-old Geraldine O'Reilly from Belturbet. Gardaí reopened the investigation almost three and a half years before March 2026. Nobody has ever been convicted in relation to the bombing. On 2 March 2026, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress had been made and that gardaí had opened a number of new lines of inquiry; no suspect, arrest or charge is mentioned in the reporting.

  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
  • Two people were killed in the bombing.
  • One of the people killed was Patrick Stanley, aged 16, from Clara in Co Offaly.
  • The other person killed was Geraldine O'Reilly, aged 15, from Belturbet.
Where
The bomb exploded on the main street of Cavan town.
When
The bomb exploded on 28 December 1972.
Weapon
The bomb exploded without warning.
Investigation
  • Gardaí reopened the investigation almost three and a half years before March 2026.
  • On 2 March 2026, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress has been made in the investigation.
  • Gardaí have opened a number of new lines of inquiry.
Charges
No suspect, arrest or charge is mentioned in the reporting.
In court
Nobody has ever been convicted in relation to the Belturbet bombing.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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 bomb exploded on the main street of Cavan town. (rte.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)
  • otherNobody has ever been convicted in relation to the Belturbet bombing. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Mar2026
    Otherrte.ie, follow-up
    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