O’Driscoll, Thomas Michael

todriscoll

Name: O’Driscoll, Thomas Michael

Rank: Garda

Reg No: 10698

Station: Cavan

Years of Service: 3

Background:
Thomas O’Driscoll, born on 24th August, 1931, came from 5, Catherine Place, Limerick. Having previously worked as a railway porter with C.I.E. and successfully underwent a Garage & workshop Procedures Course at Limerick vocational School. He joined An Garda Síochána on 25th May, 1954, and was allocated to Kilkenny Garda Station. He also served at Ballyduff and Thomastown. He was single. Garda O’Driscoll took a keen interest in soccer.

Circumstances:

On the morning of Wednesday, 22nd January, 1958, Garda O’Driscoll was driver of the official Garda car from Cavan Garda Station with another Garda as his observer. The Garda car was travelling northwards on the main road to the border crossing at Leggykelly, Co. Cavan. The members were engaged on border patrol duty manning random checkpoints to counteract IRA hostilities. At 10.30 am the patrol car was approaching the townland of Carrarod, at a location known as Gannon’s Cross, Redhills when a cattle lorry collided with the official car. Garda O’Driscoll died at the scene from the injuries he sustained.