Richard Fallon (policeman)

Richard Fallon (18 December 1926–3 April 1970) was an Irish police officer (Garda 9936) who received the Scott Medal(1). He was the first member of the Garda Síochána to be killed as a result of the Troubles.

Biography

Fallon was a native of Moneen, Kilrooskey, County Roscommon, and joined the force on 5 November 1947.

On the morning of 3 April 1970 three armed members of Saor Éire were in the process of robbing the Royal Bank of Ireland at Arran Quay, Dublin when Gardaí Paul Firth and Richard Fallon arrived by car. Confronting the three at the front of the bank, Firth and Fallon were repeatedly fired at. Firth, "who was behind Garda Fallon, called back to the patrol car driver to summon assistance before he dived to the ground. As he reached out to seize the gunman nearest to him, Garda Fallon was hit by fire from one of the others, and fell mortally wounded. He had been shot twice, in the shoulder and, fatally, in the neck. He died instantly."(2)

Fallon, married with five young children, was the first member of the Garda Síochána to be shot dead in the line of duty in twenty-eight years.

Subsequently three alleged members of Saor Éire were charged and acquitted of his murder(2). The family of Garda Fallon later alleged that there had been some government involvement in assisting the gang that murdered Garda Fallon however the Irish Government has refused to hold an inquiry into the murder(3).

References

(1) An Garda Siochana and the Scott Medal, p. 81, Gerard O'Brien, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2008. ISBN 978 1 84682 124 0 (2) Liz Walsh: The Final Beat, Gardaí Killed in the Line of Duty (Gill and Macmillan, Dublin. 2001). (3) Irish Examiner, Reporter (18 April 2009). "After 39 years, truth about death of brave garda must finally be told". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 July 2009.