Cowen pays tribute to Stanley family

Laois Offaly Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen has paid tribute to the families of Geraldine O'Reilly and Paddy Stanley, who were killed in the Belturbet bombing, for their continued campaign for justice for almost 50 years.

Speaking after Gardai announced that a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead a renewed investigation into the Belturbet bombing of December 1972, Cowen said he wished to appeal again to anybody who might have any information to ensure that they contact An Garda Síochána.

"I sincerely hope that progress can be made in this investigation of this desperate atrocity which took the lives of two young teenagers, Geraldine O’Reilly and fellow Clara man Patrick Stanley and injured many others.

"In September 2020 my colleague Deputy Brendan Smith put on the record of Dáil Éireann information that had come to him through the good investigative work of Professor Edward Burke of the University of Nottingham in relation to the Belturbet bombing. Subsequently the Minister for Justice confirmed to us that she had referred this information to An Garda Síochána for investigation.

"I wish An Garda Síochána well with this extremely important investigation and I hope that there will be co-operation, North and South, from the public and also from all Authorities that will help to identify the perpetrators of that heinous crime.

"At this time as we approach the 50th Anniversary of this despicable bombing I would like to pay tribute again to the O’Reilly and Stanley families who have always campaigned for justice for their loved ones with the utmost grace and dignity through decades of grief," Deputy Cowen added.