Death of ex Chief Supt Michael Bohan
FIRM but fair. That was former
Chief Supt Michael Bohan (pictured) who passed away last weekend, after a distinguished career in An Garda Siochana. A native of County Leitrim, Michael Bohan joined the force in 1944 and served for six and a half years in the Dublin Metropolitan area and on transfer to Cork in 1951 became the youngest sergeant in the gardai.
In January 1962 he became the youngest inspector in the force when transferred to Cavan from Carlow.
Two years later he was to become the second youngest superintendent and served in Roscommon until 1966 before he was transferred to Drogheda and remained in the town until July 1974.
That year he was promoted to Chief Superintendent and transferred to Mullingar in charge of the Longford/Westmeath Division.
He was there until August 1979 when he was posted to Garda HQ, acting as personal assistant to Garda Commissioner Patrick McLoughlin., He returned to Drogheda as Chief Super of the 500 strong Louth-Meath division in October 1984.
He had made Drogheda his home from 1966 where he raised a family with wife Nancy.
Outside of the force, he served on the Board of Management at St Ita’s school and was a forthright fundraiser for the Order of Malta Workshop.
Michael Bohan was a key figure in locality when he lost one of his men in the 1980s, the brutal murder of Sgt Patrick Morrissey sparking him to state: ‘Sgt Pat Morrissey’s courage, loyalty and dedication to his duty would be an inspiration to other members of the garda force. In every respect he was what I would regard as a model man. ‘
A few years later the Chief Supt resigned the force a year before his retirement in a blazing row over border security.
It followed remarks made by then Northern Secretary Tom King when he said that Gardai had gone to the scene of a border incident following information supplied by the British Army.
The Chief Superintendent protested to his own authorities, claiming that it put the lives of his own members at risk.
He denied that the Gardai had had any contact with the British Army and that communication about security matters was carried out strictly between the Gardai and the R.U.C.
His official retirement was believcd to have been linked with his dissatisfaction over the affair. He had asked for the comments to be corrected.
His resignation sent shock waves throughout the force and prompted questions about the operatíon of certain aspects of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Asked about reports that his resignation was linked to the aftermatch of an incident aí Ballinaby, Co. Louth, when a British soldier was arrested and taken to Dundalk Garda Station, he replied “I have absolutely no comment to make.”
In May 1989, the retired chief said the decision to transfer the Louth/Meath Garda headquarters from Drogheda to Dundalk was a political one. He said it would be a hardship for the members and also the public. Drogheda had served as the HQ for 67 years. Mr. Bohan questioned the cost effectiveness of the switch and added, “I would say that anyone with a modicum of intelligence and common sense would see the move as the ultimate in bureaucratic nonsense”.
Fianna Fail Deputy Dermot Ahem challenged the assertion that the decision to transfer to Dundalk was a political one.
Michael was predeceased by wife Nancy and is missed by his loving sons John and Michael, daughters Anne, Gretta and Breeda, sons in law John, Bobby and James, daughters in law Eliane and Alison, grandchildren Robert, Emma and Naoimh, great grandchildren Onique, Margot, Tiffany-Rose, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
His funeral was Monday to Our Lady of Lourdes Church with burial afterwards in St. Peter’s Cemetery.