Belturbet bombing probe continues

An Garda Síochána continues to “pursue active lines of inquiry” into the Belturbet bombing, which claimed the lives of two teenagers - Geraldine O’Reilly (15) from Staghall, and Patrick Stanley (16) from Co Offaly.

The update was provided by Chief Superintendent for the Cavan-Monaghan-Louth garda division, Alan McGovern, who said that those investigations “remain ongoing”.

Last year, following an extensive cold case review, a file was prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with the intention of asking whether there was enough evidence to charge an individual or individuals in relation to the atrocity over 50 years ago.

Along with two dead, more than a dozen others were seriously injured in the blast, one of three suspected UDA attacks to occur 30 minutes apart - the others at Clones (10:01pm) and Pettigo, Donegal (10:50pm) on December 28, 1972.

An appeal for new information was launched by gardaí around the time of the 50th anniversary of the bombing and, since then, there has been fresh engagement with both Interpol and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the investigation.

A new Senior Investigating Officer has, meanwhile, been appointed to the Belturbet Bombing file following the retirement of the previous officer.

Chief Supt McGovern stated that the current investigation team “remains fully engaged in progressing the case".