Morley, John F.

Name: Morley, John F.

Rank: Detective Garda

Reg No: 15543H

Station: Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

Years of Service: 18

Background:
John Morley, born on 6th October, 1942, came from Faughill, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. He joined An Garda Síochána on 31st March, 1964. On 27th May, 1979, he was appointed to Detective Branch, based at Castlerea Garda Station. He previously served at Ballaghadreen. He was a renowned Gaelic footballer who captained his native Mayo team and played with Connaught in the Inter-provincial series. He was married with three children, Detective Garda John Morley was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal on 16th September, 1982.

Circumstances:

On the afternoon of 7th 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. D/Garda John Morley with colleagues Sergeant Michael O’Malley, Garda Henry Byrne 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.