Garda Sgt PJ Morrissey Honoured 40 Years On: “A Guardian of Community and Kindness”
By ArdeePost Reporter
Garda Sergeant Patrick Joseph “PJ” Morrissey, gunned down near Tallanstown on 27 June 1985, has been solemnly remembered by his family and colleagues on the 40th anniversary of his death. PJ was shot while pursuing two armed robbers in the wake of an armed raid at the Ardee Employment Exchange.
A Life of Service and Sacrifice
PJ Morrissey, born 7 March 1936 in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, served with distinction in the Irish Army (1953–1960) before joining An Garda Síochána in December 1960. Promoted to Sergeant in October 1974, PJ served 24 years across stations including Collon, Tramore, and Garda HQ. A respected lay diver and key player in establishing the Garda Sub-Aqua Unit, he was beloved for his strength, humanity, and unwavering sense of fairness .
The Fateful Morning in 1985
On 27 June 1985, Gardaí responded to a robbery at the Ardee Employment Exchange by two gunmen, Michael McHugh and Noel Callan. Unarmed, PJ joined the chase on foot after the robbers fled on a motorcycle. Near Tallanstown, he was shot at close range following a collision that injured civilians nearby. PJ succumbed at the scene in what RTÉ security correspondent Tom McCaughren described as an “execution” .
Aftermath and Commemoration
Both killers were convicted, initially sentenced to death—later commuted to 40 years imprisonment. They were released after 30 years following a Supreme Court remission ruling .
PJ was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal for bravery in 1986 and honorary Freedom of Drogheda in 2013 .
40th Anniversary Tributes For Garda Morrissey
A memorial service in Collon saw the unveiling of a bench and plaque beside the Garda station, attended by family and colleagues . An anniversary Mass will be held in Belturbet alongside his widow Bernie, children Martin, Brian, Mary, Aideen, brother George, grandchildren, and extended family .
The family lovingly described PJ as “a giant of kindness and strength… a guardian of the peace… at home in the garden or on the rivers Erne and Boyne” .
SEFF Tribute and Quilt in Memory Of Garda Morrissey
The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) has dedicated a quilt panel in his memory—featuring a diver in water, encircled by musical notes—to capture PJ’s multi-faceted life beyond the Garda uniform . SEFF Director Kenny Donaldson praised the Morrissey family’s resilience and upheld PJ’s legacy of respect, service, and integrity .
Remembering a Fallen Hero
Sergeant PJ Morrissey’s bravery and service resonate deeply through histories of community safeguarding and Gardaian valor. As commemorations extend across Louth and Cavan, authorities and community advocates are reaffirming their commitment to honouring his memory and the values for which he stood.
