Byrne, Henry Gerard

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Name: Byrne, Henry Gerard

Rank: Garda

Reg No: 18300H

Station: Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

Years of Service: 8

Background: Henry Gerard Byrne, born on 24th March, 1951, came from Wingfield, Knock, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. He joined An Garda Síochána on 8th March, 1972. He served at Mullingar, Multyfarnham, Granard and Carlow. A married man with three children, Garda Henry Byrne, was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal on 16th September, 1982.

Circumstances:

On the afternoon of 7^th July, 1980 the Bank of Ireland, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon was robbed of £41,000 by two armed and masked men. Having made their escape the raiders, (three of them in all), burned their getaway car and transferred to another a short distance away and headed towards Castlerea. Garda Henry Byrne with colleagues Sergeant Michael O’Malley, D/Garda John Morley and Garda Derek O'Kelly intercepted the raiders at Aghaderry, Shannon’s Cross, some five miles from Ballaghaderreen, where the raiders’ vehicle collided with the patrol car. 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. Having pursued the raiders Detective Garda Morley was shot dead a short distance away.