Don Tidey in tribute to murdered soldier

Businessman Don Tidey has made a rare public appearance to lay a wreath at a memorial park dedicated to a soldier who died freeing him 25 years ago.

Mr Tidey was one of the guests this morning at the unveiling of the Patrick Kelly Memorial Park in Moate, Co Westmeath, named after Private Kelly, who remains the only Irish soldier to die in combat since the end of the civil war in 1922.

Private Kelly, who was from Moate, was killed along with a Garda recruit Gary Sheehan in a shoot-out at Derrada Woods in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim on December 16th, 1983, 25 years ago to the day.

He was just 35 and left a wife, Cathriona and four sons David, Michael, Patrick and Andrew, who is now also an army private.

Mr Tidey, who is now 73, laid a wreath along with the chairman of Westmeath County Council Cllr Joe Whelan who described Private Kelly as a "gentleman" whose interests were his family, the defence forces and cars.

American-born Mr Tidey, who was the chairman of the Associated British Food Company, which owned Quinnsworth at the time, did not speak to the media following the ceremony. He did, however, recall his ordeal during the trial of Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane who was acquitted of any involvement in Mr Tidey's kidnapping earlier this year. Mr Tidey, who was held for 23 days, described the circumstances of his release as being like a "battleground".

The Kelly family emigrated to London two years after the incident. Mrs Kelly was just 30 at the time of her husband's killing and says she is now hoping to return to Ireland to live and work.

She said yesterday's ceremony made her both "happy and sad".

"This is a marvellous occasion and my sons are so happy. They were very young at the time and it has put their minds at rest really," she said.