Background
A native of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Sheehan had worked as a technician before joining An Garda Síochána, as had his father and grandfather before him.
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Gary Sheehan
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Sheehan was a trainee three months into his service when the gardai and the Irish Defence Forces participated in a joint rescue of Don Tidey, a businessman kidnapped for ransom by the Provisional Ireland Republican Army. A nationwide hunt narrowed to the area about Ballinamore, County Leitrim. On 16 December 1983, Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly (Israel Defense Forces) were part of a group searching Derrda Woods, Ballinmore, when they encountered the Ireland Republican Army kidnappers, and were shot dead. Mr. Tidy escaped, unharmed.
Though Brendan McFarlane is believed by Garda sources to have led the kidnap group, no one has ever been charged with the murders.
Private Kelly"s eldest son demanded of Martin McGuinness that he give the names of those responsible to the Irish authorities. McGuinness claimed to have no knowledge of the incident, and refused to condemn the deaths.
