River search in probe into bombing that killed Clara youth

Cold Case team to review evidence of Belturbet Bomb

A major search operation is underway this morning near Belturbet, Co. Cavan, with garda divers in the water close to Aghalane Bridge.

It's part of the cold case investigation into the Belturbet bombing, which claimed the lives of two teenagers 50 years ago.

The Garda Press Office has confirmed that Gardai today commenced a joint search operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland at the Woodford River at the Old Aghalane Bridge on the border between Co. Cavan and Co Fermanagh for evidence in relation to the Belturbet bombing.

Patrick Stanley (16) from Clara, Co Offaly, and local girl Geraldine O'Reilly (15) lost their lives in the blast on December 28, 1972.

Late last year, An Garda Síochána set up an incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station, from which members assigned to the case, are conducting a full examination of all evidence, old and new.

In recent months, gardaí also made an appeal for information on RTÉ’s Crimecall.

Patrick Stanley (16) also died that night. A gas delivery assistant, he was in a phone box nearby having stopped off to call his family and let them know he'd be late home.

Twelve more people were injured, some seriously, including Geraldine’s brother Anthony, himself just 22 years at the time. He was waiting for his little sister to return with their supper, double-parked, just metres from where the bomb exploded.

The cars used in the bombings had been stolen from the Enniskillen area.

The vehicle used in the Belturbet attack carried at least two passengers, including a young man and a woman. It crossed an unapproved bailey bridge at Aghalane at around 9pm, and close to an hour and a half later the bomb detonated.

Garda Chief Superintendent for the North East, Alan McGovern, confirmed last year that he had assigned “investigative resources” to the Belturbet bombing case, which has at all times remained “open”.

The team assigned has been drawn from across the North-East policing region, with a senior investigative officer appointed to lead the paper review. Their task entails reassessing all initial investigative efforts, and identifying potential breakthroughs with new information uncovered since.

“This has always remained an open investigation but I’ve now assigned specific resources to examine the evidence in more detail, using more modern investigative techniques in so far as we possibly can.”

No one has ever been charged in connection with the Belturbet bombing, one of three similar attacks to occur that same evening, all within 50 minutes of each other.

Gardai are continuing to appeal for people to come forward with information.

Anyone with information in relation to the Belturbet bombing, or indeed any other bombing, can contact the Incident Room at Ballyconnell Garda Station 049 9525580, the Garda confidential line Free-phone 1800 666111, Crimestoppers 1800 250025 or Crimestoppers Northern Ireland 0800 555 111.