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President Higgins hosts the South-East Fermanagh Foundation and families of victims at Áras an Uachtaráin

Date: Thu 6th Mar, 2025 | 15:12

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina this afternoon hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin where they welcomed members of the South-East Fermanagh Foundation and a number of family members of those killed during the Troubles.

Those in attendance included immediate family members of a number of Gardaí killed during the decades of violence, including those of Garda Sergeant Patrick Morrissey, Garda Inspector Samuel Donegan, Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, Garda Detective John Morley, Garda Richard Fallon and Garda Detective Frank Hand, as well as family members of RUC Constable Robert Keys, Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack and Irish Army Private Patrick Kelly.

Also in attendance were victims and family members of those killed in a number of other atrocities including, amongst others, the Omagh bombing and the Dublin/Monaghan bombings as well as a number of individual murders.

At the event, the President viewed a memorial quilt containing patches representing many of the victims of the conflict, including new patches recently sown to represent those victims who worked as members of the policing and security services.

Click here to read the full text of the President’s address from the event.