Issue Date: 07/04/2022
A wreath laying ceremony took place just outside Tipperary Town on Monday 21st March to commemorate the death of Superintendent John (Sean) Curtin. Superintendent Curtin was the highest ranking member of An Garda Síochána to be murdered in the line of duty during the one hundred years of the force.
The Tipperary Divisional Ceremonial Unit carried the wreath down the quiet country road in the unseasonal sunshine, to Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn who placed it at the gates of Friarsfield House where Superintendent Curtin was ambushed and shot by the IRA on 20th March 1931. Superintendent Curtin had just returned from a night inspection at Golden Garda Station and on reaching his driveway, noticed the gates were partly shut, which was unusual. He got out of his car to fully open the gates when he was shot a number of times, the last shot at close range. His wife Maureen who was pregnant with twins at the time, was in the house with her sister Irene and did not hear any sound until they noticed the stationary lights of the car in the driveway sometime later and they then discovered Superintendent Curtin lying critically injured on the ground. He died in the early hours of the next morning.
At the commemoration, Acting Superintendent Tipperary Town, Ciara Lee said in her address, that in this centenary year of An Garda Síochána, it was important that Superintendent Curtin’s life be remembered, sentiments echoed by retired Chief Superintendent John O’Brien who delivered an outline of the events of that fateful night to the gathered crowd. Retired Chief Superintendent Donal O’Sullivan was also in attendance and it was he who tracked down the original Garda hat and Sam Browne belt belonging to Superintendent Curtin which was displayed at a further function later that day.
Former Minister of State Martin Mansergh, spoke eloquently at the ceremony describing a very troubled and fractious period in our nation’s history. Dr. Mansergh is the current co-owner of Friarsfield House where Superintendent Curtin paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Garda Band played The Last Post which was impeccably observed and members of the Garda Mounted Unit assisted in the ceremonial duties.
The Curtin family were represented on the day by Joan Nilioain, Kay Phelan, Michael Curtin, Oliver Moore and John Moore. A grand-nephew of Superintendent Curtin’s wife Maureen, James Quigley also attended the ceremony. An interesting Garda connection is that the Acting CMO Dr. Richard Quigley is also a grand-nephew of Maureen Curtin (nee O’Connor). A/Superintendent Ciara Lee was delighted to welcome Chief Superintendent Derek Smart along with Superintendents and Inspectors from across the Division and the Country to the commemoration, particularly members from the Garda Stations where Supt. Curtin had served.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis
