Cavan GSRMA honour garda killed on duty 65 years ago

Local retired members of the force travelled to Limerick last Sunday to pay their respects at the grave of the late Garda Thomas Michael O’Driscoll who died while on duty in Cavan 65 years ago.

It is a continuation of the group’s commemoration marking 100 years since the foundation of An Garda Síochána, which previously saw tributes paid to the late Inspector Samuel Donegan, Garda Patrick Morrissey and Detective Michael Walsh.

The morning he died, Wednesday, January 22, 1958, Garda O’Driscoll was driver of the official Garda car from Cavan Garda Station with another Garda as observer.

The car was travelling northwards to Leggykelly where both officers were due to mount a border patrol to counteract IRA hostilities in the area.

However, at 10.30am, as the patrol car approached Gannon’s Cross, a cattle lorry collided with the car.

Aged 26 years, and with three years’ service under his belt, Garda O’Driscoll died at the scene. His family shared with the three retired gardaí who travelled from Cavan on Sunday, January 22, that Gda O’Driscoll had missed travelling home to his native Limerick that Christmas.

To make up for his absence, he had arranged for presents to be delivered to his family by a lorry driver journeying south.

The memorial ceremony in honour of the late Gda O’Driscoll took place his his graveside at Mount St Lawrence Cemetery.

The event was attended by members of Gda O’Driscoll’s family, including his sister Maureen, brother Fionan, and his nephew Garda Finn O’Driscoll, stationed in Shannon.

They were also joined by members of the Limerick City Branch GSRMA, Chief Superintendent Derek Smart, as well as other serving gardaí.

At the graveside wreaths were laid on behalf of Garda O’Driscoll’s family, Cavan GSRMA, and serving gardaí in attendance.

Chief Superintendent Smart presented Gda O’Driscoll’s Garda Centenary Medal and Certificate to his sister Maureen and brother Fionan.