Sheehan was still a probationary Garda, three months into his service and in training at the Garda College at Templemore, when he was deployed in a joint police and Irish Defence Forces search for Don Tidey, Managing Director of the Quinnsworth supermarket chain, who had been kidnapped in the southern outskirts of Dublin for ransom by the IRA to raise finance for its paramilitary activities.
A nationwide manhunt of four weeks gained intelligence information which narrowed the search to the area near Ballinamore in the south-east of County Leitrim. On the afternoon of 16 December 1983, Sheehan and Private Kelly, a soldier in the Irish Army, were part of a joint forces team searching with dogs through Drumcromin Wood, at Derrada, near Ballinamore, when they found the IRA kidnap gang's hideout location, and were shot dead (Sheehan being hit in the head)[2] in an intense exchange of small arms fire with it, during which hand-grenades were also thrown. Tidey was subsequently found nearby and rescued, the IRA gang fleeing the scene, managing to escape, shooting and wounding another Garda officer in the process.[3]
BurialEdit
The body of Recruit Garda Sheehan was buried at Carrickmacross cemetery. He was 23 years of age.
Suspects and subsequent related prosecutionsEdit
Though the IRA paramilitary Brendan McFarlane is believed by Garda sources to have led the kidnap gang, no one has been charged with the murders. McFarlane was prosecuted for the kidnapping at Dublin's Special Criminal Court in 2008, but the case collapsed and McFarlane was awarded legal costs and damages.[4]
^. www.garda.ie. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017.
^Reilly, Jerome (15 June 2008). "'Don't be dead heroes,' IRA gang told gardai, soldiers". Irish Independent.
^. RTÉ Television. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 March 2009.
^Parkin, Chris (27 December 2014). "Shockwaves of Don Tidey kidnap still felt 12 months on". Irish Independent.
External linksEdit
Top garda planned to arrest Bik McFarlane, court hears
Martin McGuinness confronted by son of murdered soldier
October 18, 2023
gary, sheehan, police, officer, gary, sheehan, september, 1960, december, 1983, irish, garda, síochána, officer, killed, exchange, fire, with, provisional, irish, republican, army, during, hostage, rescue, operation, county, leitrim, ireland, 1983, contents, e. Gary Sheehan 24 September 1960 16 December 1983 was an Irish Garda Siochana officer who was killed in an exchange of gun fire with the Provisional Irish Republican Army IRA during a hostage rescue operation in County Leitrim in Ireland in 1983 Contents 1 Early life 2 Derrada shooting 3 Burial 4 Suspects and subsequent related prosecutions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditA native of Carrickmacross in County Monaghan Sheehan had worked as a technician before joining the Garda Siochana in September 1983 being given the service number 23589L Both his father and grandfather had also been police officers He was also a member of the Carrick Emmets Gaelic Football team 1 Derrada shooting EditSheehan was still a probationary Garda three months into his service and in training at the Garda College at Templemore when he was deployed in a joint police and Irish Defence Forces search for Don Tidey Managing Director of the Quinnsworth supermarket chain who had been kidnapped in the southern outskirts of Dublin for ransom by the IRA to raise finance for its paramilitary activities A nationwide manhunt of four weeks gained intelligence information which narrowed the search to the area near Ballinamore in the south east of County Leitrim On the afternoon of 16 December 1983 Sheehan and Private Kelly a soldier in the Irish Army were part of a joint forces team searching with dogs through Drumcromin Wood at Derrada near Ballinamore when they found the IRA kidnap gang s hideout location and were shot dead Sheehan being hit in the head 2 in an intense exchange of small arms fire with it during which hand grenades were also thrown Tidey was subsequently found nearby and rescued the IRA gang fleeing the scene managing to escape shooting and wounding another Garda officer in the process 3 Burial EditThe body of Recruit Garda Sheehan was buried at Carrickmacross cemetery He was 23 years of age Suspects and subsequent related prosecutions EditThough the IRA paramilitary Brendan McFarlane is believed by Garda sources to have led the kidnap gang no one has been charged with the murders McFarlane was prosecuted for the kidnapping at Dublin s Special Criminal Court in 2008 but the case collapsed and McFarlane was awarded legal costs and damages 4 See also EditList of Gardai killed in the line of dutyReferences Edit Gary Sheehan www garda ie Archived from the original on 28 March 2017 Reilly Jerome 15 June 2008 Don t be dead heroes IRA gang told gardai soldiers Irish Independent Garda Ar Lar RTE Television 16 February 2009 Archived from the original on 23 March 2009 Parkin Chris 27 December 2014 Shockwaves of Don Tidey kidnap still felt 12 months on Irish Independent External links EditTop garda planned to arrest Bik McFarlane court hears Martin McGuinness confronted by son of murdered soldier Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gary Sheehan police officer amp oldid 1161107979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
