IN PICTURES: Commemoration marks 50th anniversary of the Garryhinch bombing

A commemoration was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Garryhinch bombing, on the Laois and Offaly border, which occurred on October 16, 1976.

The commemoration was held to remember Garda Michael Clerkin, who lost his life in the line of duty.

He was among five gardaí to put their lives on the line for the country when they were blown up when a 100lb IRA bomb exploded in a farmhouse at Garryhinch, Co Offaly in October 1976.

Jim Cannon, Tom Peters, Ben Thornton, Gerry Bohan, Michael Clerkin were called to the scene after getting a warning that an IRA gang was planning to assassinate the former minister and Laois Offaly TD, Oliver J Flanagan.

Garda Clerkin, who was just 24 at the time, was killed while his colleagues all suffered varying degrees of life-changing injuries in the blast.

Those in attendance at the ceremony included Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, Superintendent Brian Farrell, former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and Tom Conway, President of the Garda Síochána Retired Members’ Association.

Chief Supt Lonergan highlighted that the day’s event was about remembering people who served, were courageous and who suffered in the line of duty, and in the case of Garda Clerkin, made the ultimate sacrifice.

"I assure you that we will remember the impact that this event has had on An Garda Síochána, on you as families, and indeed the wider community,” he said.