Thursday 5 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.

Named in reporting

Patrick Stanley

Born between March 2008 and March 2009, from the ages reported. 15 reports across 1 case, 19 Oct 2022 to 2 Mar 2026

Victim: Patrick Stanley, Irish man, 16 (judged from name)Patrick Stanley

Key facts

from every report naming them
Named as
Victim
Born
Between March 2008 and March 2009, from the ages reported
Offences
Bombing causing death
Where
Co. Cavan
Reporting
15 reports, 19 Oct 2022 to 2 Mar 2026
Outlets
rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, donegallive.ie, irishtimes.com, leitrimobserver.ie, longfordleader.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit
16 year old Patrick Stanley was killed in a bomb blast in Belturbet in December 1972
16 year old Patrick Stanley was killed in a bomb blast in Belturbet in December 1972
Photocredit not given by the outletvia offalyexpress.ie, 29 Dec 2022
Patrick Stanley
Patrick Stanley
PhotoGarda Press Officevia irishtimes.com, 19 Dec 2022
Patrick Stanley (16) was from Clara, Co. Offaly. Survived by his parents, Teresa (RIP) and Joe (RIP) and nine siblings. A keen hurler, Gaelic footballer and soccer player, Patrick had recently won an All-Star award for Gaelic football with his school, Árd Scoil Ciarán. He had applied for a cadetship in the Army and, at the time of his murder, was temporarily employed by local businessman, Pat Jennings as a helper on a Calor Gas delivery lorry. On 28th December 1972, there had been a problem with the lorry; he and the driver decided to stay in Belturbet overnight. When the bomb exploded, Patrick Stanley was in the public phone kiosk on the Main Street, trying to telephone his parents to tell them he would not be home.
Patrick Stanley (16) was from Clara, Co. Offaly. Survived by his parents, Teresa (RIP) and Joe (RIP) and nine siblings. A keen hurler, Gaelic footballer and soccer player, Patrick had recently won an All-Star award for Gaelic football with his school, Árd Scoil Ciarán. He had applied for a cadetship in the Army and, at the time of his murder, was temporarily employed by local businessman, Pat Jennings as a helper on a Calor Gas delivery lorry. On 28th December 1972, there had been a problem with the lorry; he and the driver decided to stay in Belturbet overnight. When the bomb exploded, Patrick Stanley was in the public phone kiosk on the Main Street, trying to telephone his parents to tell them he would not be home.
Photocredit not given by the outletvia leitrimobserver.ie, 19 Oct 2022
Two children, Patrick Stanley (16 years) of Clara, Co. Offaly, and Geraldine O’Reilly (15 years) of Drumacon, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, were killed instantly; eight more people were injured.
Pictured with others
Two children, Patrick Stanley (16 years) of Clara, Co. Offaly, and Geraldine O’Reilly (15 years) of Drumacon, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, were killed instantly; eight more people were injured.
Photocredit not given by the outletvia donegallive.ie, 19 Oct 2022

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

Cases

latest first
  • Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death Bombing causing death · Co. Cavan

    A 100lb car bomb in a red Ford Escort exploded outside Farrelly's Bar and McGowan's Drapery on Main Street, Belturbet, County Cavan, at 10:28pm on 28 December 1972, killing 16-year-old man Patrick Stanley from Clara, County Offaly, and 15-year-old woman Geraldine O'Reilly from Belturbet, and injuring eight others. Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for the attack, but no one has been convicted. Gardaí reopened the investigation about three and a half years ago, appointed a Senior Investigating Officer, established an incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station, and made public appeals for information in October and December 2022, releasing photofits of up to nine suspects. In March 2024, a file on the case was reported as near completion for the Director of Public Prosecutions. In March 2026, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said significant progress had been made and new lines of inquiry opened.

    Reported, 19 Oct 2022Victim · 15 reports

Timeline

every report naming Patrick Stanley, newest first

Each entry shows how that report described them.

  1. 2 Mar2026
    Otherrte.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Progress made in Belturbet bombing probe - Commissioner
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  2. 7 Mar2024
    Otheririshmirror.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardai close in on evil perpetrators of Belturbet bombing which killed two teens
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16Patrick Stanley
  3. 29 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Family of Offaly teenager killed in bomb blast attend memorial event in Belturbet
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  4. 28 Dec2022
    Otheririshmirror.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    'Do the right thing' - Man who lost sister in Belturbet appeals to bombers
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  5. 20 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Renewed call for information in relation to bombing which killed Offaly teenager
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  6. 19 Dec2022
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Renewed call for information in relation to bombing in Belturbet which killed Offaly teen
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  7. 19 Dec2022
    Otherdonegallive.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardaí issue fresh appeal ahead of 50th anniversary of Pettigo bomb
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  8. 19 Dec2022
    Otheririshtimes.com, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardaí investigating 1972 Belturbet bombing that killed two teenagers release new details
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  9. 19 Dec2022
    Otherleitrimobserver.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Garda Síochána issues public appeal for information on Belturbet Bombing
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  10. 19 Oct2022
    Otheririshtimes.com, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    New lines of inquiry in Belturbet loyalist bombing that killed two teens
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  11. 19 Oct2022
    Otherdonegallive.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Appeal over 1972 Cavan car bombing which killed two teens at Belturbet
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  12. 19 Oct2022
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardaí renew appeal for information on 1972 car bombing which killed two teens
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  13. 19 Oct2022
    Otherleitrimobserver.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardai renew appeal 1972 Belturbet bombing
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  14. 19 Oct2022
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardaí renew appeal for information on 1972 car bombing in which Offaly teenager was killed
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley
  15. 19 Oct2022
    Otheririshmirror.ie, in Gardaí report progress in Belturbet bombing causing death
    Gardai make fresh appeal for info on bomb that killed two teens 50 years ago
    victim, Patrick Stanley, 16, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Stanley

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.