Patrick Laffey

Died

:

25 October 1920

Age

:

41

Rank

:

Constable

Force

:

Royal Irish Constabulary

Cause

:

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

:

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

One of four RIC officers who were fatally shot when their nine-man patrol was ambushed by terrorists.

Shot dead alongside his colleagues, Sergeant Patrick Perry and Constable Patrick Keown, when their nine-man bicycle patrol was ambushed three miles along the road after leaving the RIC barracks in Cliffoney, County Sligo, to investigate a case of malicious damage in Magherow.

The leaders of the ambush called on the RIC to surrender but Sergeant Perry ordered his men to open fire which resulted in the patrol being fired on from three sides. Three more officers were badly wounded, with Constable Patrick Lynch dying of his injuries two days later.