Memorial honour for murdered Garda officer

A garda murdered in a booby trap bomb in 1976 is to be remembered at a special ceremony where several of his retired colleagues…

A garda murdered in a booby trap bomb in 1976 is to be remembered at a special ceremony where several of his retired colleagues who survived the atrocity will be honoured.

Garda Michael Clerkin was killed instantly and four other officers were seriously injured when a no-warning blast went off as they launched a raid on an isolated cottage in Garryhinch near the Laois/Offaly border.

Detectives in Portlaoise had been given a tip-off that an armed IRA gang were staying in the house preparing for a daring raid on a nearby town.

But as the five strong garda team began searching a 100lb bomb ripped the house apart with 24-year-old Garda Clerkin and his colleague Detective Garda Tom Peters taking its full force.

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Garda Peters was blinded and has not worked since. The Garda Siochana Retired Members' Association (GSRMA) have commissioned special Liddy Medals to honour him and former officers, Detective Garda Ben Thornton, Sgt Jim Cannon and Garda Gerard Bohan.

A glass sculpture of a dove in flight has also been commissioned to give to Garda Clerkin's family.

The presentation will be made at the GSRMA annual delegate conference in Dublin on Tuesday.

Gerard Lovett, general secretary of the GSRMA, said: "At the launch of this medal we felt it appropriate nearly 30 years after the incident that we remember the sacrifice made.