Widow of Garda 40 years after his murder: Every day is an anniversary

The widow of an Irish detective who was shot dead by alleged INLA members following a bank robbery 40 years ago today has said “every day for me is an anniversary”.
Detective Garda John MorleyDetective Garda John Morley
Detective Garda John Morley

Garda Officer Henry Byrne and Detective Garda Officer John Morley were murdered on July 7, 1980 following the robbery of a Bank of Ireland branch in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.

Two armed and masked men robbed £41,000 and, having made their escape with a third man, the raiders burned their getaway car and transferred to another a short distance away, before travelling towards Castlerea.

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Detective Garda Morley, with colleagues Sergeant Michael O’Malley, Garda Byrne and Garda Derek O’Kelly, intercepted the raiders at Aghaderry, Shannon’s Cross, where the raiders’ vehicle collided with the patrol car.

Garda Henry ByrneGarda Henry Byrne
Garda Henry Byrne

One of the raiders shot at the windscreen of the patrol car. The other two raiders then opened fire on the patrol car, killing Garda Byrne.

Detective Garda Morley was shot dead a short distance away, having pursued the raiders.

Both men were posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal – a medal awarded for acts of bravery by the Irish police force – on September 16, 1982.

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Garda Morley’s widow, Frances Morley, said that her family and the Byrne family would gather with former colleagues of John and Henry today at the avenue of the atrocity where a memorial remembering the men is sited.

Mrs Morley, in a statement issued through the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) victims’ organisation, said: “I never wanted to hold ugly thoughts of bitterness or revenge, that will not being John back and in fact would only further hurt my family and I.

“We have tried to live our lives well, my children and their children have brought many moments of joy – but yes of course those are moments which John should have experienced.”

She added: “Today may be viewed a milestone anniversary by people outside of our families, it’s a time when their focus comes on our situation but every day for me is an anniversary and I expect this is the same for others also.”

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SEFF director of services Kenny Donaldson added: “John and Henry were true sons of Ireland who did their best to serve their family, community and state through their role in An Garda Siochana.

“It is important that their own state plus the community of Northern Ireland and beyond understand the sacrifices of the Morley and Byrne families, caught up in a campaign of terrorism and violence which was not of their making.

“The Byrnes and Morleys are two families who have been largely overlooked. We campaign for formal recognition for them including the reinstation of a support scheme via the Victims and Survivors Service.”