Garda red alert over fears of murder bid at Traveller funeral
MORE than 100 gardai were involved in a major operation across at least four counties in the Republic after receiving information about a potential murder attempt at a Traveller funeral linked to a fatal shooting in Northern Ireland.
The huge Garda operation in the Irish Midlands happened before and during the funeral of John ‘Dodie’ Stokes over three days last week.
Senior security sources said the operation was mounted after “information came in” that Patrick McGinley (49), who was due to attend the ceremony, was to be shot dead by a rival faction from Athlone.
Patrick and his son William McGinley (28) are both charged with the murder of 63-year-old Bernard ‘Barney’ McGinley.
He was shot dead in front of his wife Brigid while attending a wedding at St Mary’s Church, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, in February 2015.
In an unfortunate twist, the anniversary of the murder of ‘Barney’ McGinley was due to take place the day after Friday’s funeral which led to heightened tension.
However, because of a massive Garda operation that spanned counties Longford, Westmeath, Cavan and Roscommon, there were no incidents.
Garda units including the armed Regional Support Unit and dog section were on hand to ensure proceedings passed off peacefully at St Mel’s Cathedral and at a funeral home in Longford town.
There were also armed checkpoints at locations miles from the funeral, and bomb and weapons sweeps were carried out at Ballymacormack Cemetery in Longford.
According to sources, Patrick McGinley did not show up for the funeral and no arrests were made. “This major Garda operation was necessary because of the grave threat to public safety,” a senior source said.
Mr McGinley, a member of the Travelling community from Athlone, was shot shortly before the wedding of two Travellers in St Mary’s Church on February 11, 2015.
He was flown to hospital in a police helicopter, but died from his injuries.
Mr McGinley had been attending the wedding of two young people from the Traveller community, aged 16 and 17.
He was shot in the chest in front of his wife and some of their grandchildren as he was about to walk down the aisle.
Those involved in the shooting made off towards the border about four miles away.