Remembering ‘one of our own’
MEMORIAL Civic guard shot in Belturbet honoured 100 years later
An off-duty civic guard, fatally wounded in a Belturbet shooting, was honoured a century after his death at an event at his Galway graveside last week. The event at Killimor Old Cemetery was organised by members of An Garda Siochána Retired Members’ Association (GSRMA), and was attended by Fianna Fáil Minister of State at the Department of Health, Anne Rabbitte and Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy McClearn.
Both addressed the gathering of about 90 serving and retired gardaí including some from Cavan and Monaghan, with the force represented by Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche, divisional officer, Galway.
The North West Garda ceremonial unit carried the national flag and the Garda flags, and the late Garda Michael Lyons’ grand nephew, Padraig Lyons, was presented with a centenary medal, along with his uncle’s certificate of service by Chief Supt Roche.
A specially commissioned plaque was also unveiled in honour of Garda Lyons.
Garda James McCaffrey, bugler with the Garda Band, played the Last Post and the National Anthem by the graveside; while Fr Joe Kennedy, chaplain to the Garda Siochana was also present.
President of the GSRMA and Galway native Joe Dirwin said, while there were 50 years between both he and Gda Lyons joining the force and their paths never crossed, the event was an opportunity for all retired and serving gardaí to “call Michael one of our own”.
Gda Lyons, the son of Thomas and Mary (nee Raferty) from Ramore, Killimor, near Ballinasloe, joined the newly formed Civic Guards in March 1922. During that time, he served two short-lived postings - in Glaslough and latterly Clones, Co Monaghan.
The day before the 27-year-old’s “untimely and violent death”, Lyons attended the An Garda Síochána Sports at Croke Park in Dublin, along with fellow civic guard Patrick O’Keefe. They returned to Clones town at 9:30pm. They were due back in the barracks by midnight but instead left Clones at 12:30am on the morning of August 16 in the company two local girls including Lyons’ fiancée Mary McFadden and local man Charles McEntee.
Hugh Maguire from Clones was hired to drive the party and, on their way to the dance, at 12:40am, they found their passage into Belturbet Town halted by a military sentry at the barrack gates.
At 4:20am, on their way back to Clones, it was recalled that at about 15 yards from the sentry post gate the vehicle was ordered to ‘halt’.
Mr McEntee, one of the occupants, shouted: ‘It’s alright, we are coming from the dance’.
But due to indistinct reply, the car moved and a single shot was discharged, striking Gda Lyons and also seriously wounded Lyons’ fiancée Ms McFadden.
Gda Lyons received first aid at Belturbet Military Barracks, before being transferred to Cavan County Infirmary for surgery. He died at 11:30am on August 16, 1923.
It was noted in a report to the Minister of Homes Affairs that the incident “might have been obviated” if a warning shot had been fired in accordance with “military orders”.
Gda Lyons had resigned from the RIC “because he refused to take up arms against his own countrymen”, the report stated.
Private Laurence Mullaghton was relieved of his duty after the shooting, and taken into Military Custody. He was under notice of discharge from the army at the time and subsequently charged with the wilful murder of Gda Lyons.
However, a jury later found Mullaghton guilty of ‘manslaughter’, the foreman stating a belief he had been acting under orders and therefore was not responsible.
Mr Justice O’Shaughnessy released him on probation.
Businesses in the area closed and the blinds were drawn as the funeral cortège passed through Pearse and Connolly Streets. When the motor carrying Gda Lyons’ remains arrived in Ballinasloe crowds lined the streets.