Jack Fadden grew up in Castlebar, Co. Mayo and joined An Garda Siochána in 1959. He was first appointed to Ballyconnell in 1960, and he recalls the earlier Troubles of 1956 to 1962, and his working brief at that time. In 1962 he was transferred to Co. Clare where he served until his appointment to the Cavan Monaghan Division in the early 1960s when he was promoted to the Sergeant rank. He explains that he saw the worst of the Troubles in Clones where he was based. He recalls an incident involving a booby trap which resulted in the death of Inspector Samuel Donegan on 8 June 1972 at Legakelly, and also the physical and psychological trauma he suffered as a result. He describes the lawlessness on the Drumully Peninsula, where the UVF and the IRA had intermittent checkpoints. His transfer back to Ballyconnell, where he was to remain until his retirement in 1995 is mentioned, and he recalls many incidents which occurred during this period of his service. One such incident involved the murder of schoolmaster George Saunderson at Teemore Primary School in April 1974, after which the perpetrators drove at high speed through the Garda checkpoint in Ballyconnell. He was later to discover the abandoned vehicle. Another dangerous time is recalled when tensions were high in the aftermath of the arrest of a local IRA member in Ballyconnell, which resulted in a baton charge and the involvement of the army in an attempt to maintain control. No further trouble was to occur in Ballyconnell over subsequent years.
This collection, carried out by Irish Life and Lore on behalf of Cavan County Library Service, is funded by the EU Special EU Programmes Body Peace IV fund under the objective to build positive relations with people from different backgrounds and communities to support peace and reconciliation.
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