The 27th of November, 1987, is a day Kieran Williams will never forget. Kieran was a young Garda at the time with just three years’ service behind him. The chase was on for the infamous INLA man, Dessie O’Hare, known to all as ‘the Border Fox’, who was being sought countrywide by the Gardai.
By Paul O’Donovan
Kieran takes up the story. “We were at Ministers Cross in Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny. It was 27th of November, 1987. We had got word that the ‘Border Fox’ (Dessie O’Hare) was in the area. O’Hare was the most wanted criminal in Ireland at the time. We had set up a checkpoint. The Gardai and the Army were on duty at the checkpoint, and we were aware that there the likelihood of a shootout. Then the car arrived on the scene. I could see O’Hare in the car. We tried to stop it, but he wouldn’t stop.
“The bullets started flying from all angles. At one stage, I remember being on the ground and the bullets were literally flying just above my head. It was terrifying, but we were determined to arrest him.
“When the shootout was over, unfortunately the front seat passenger in O’Hare’s car was fatally wounded, and a soldier was also wounded, but was all right. O’Hare was shot a number of times, but survived and in the end, we managed to capture him.
“I later received a commendation with distinction for my duty on the date,” said Kieran, who this week retired from An Garda Siochana after 32 years’ service, the last ten of which were served in Mullingar, eight of them as Sergeant in Charge.
INTERESTING CAREER
It was certainly a long, winding road that took the popular sergeant from his first station in Thurles in 1984 to his second stint in Mullingar in 2006.
Although he has a close Mullingar ‘link’ – in that he was born in Mullingar Hospital – Kieran is a native of Culray, Aughnacliffe, Co Longford.
He joined the Gardai on 30th of May, 1984 and was assigned to Thurles, Co. Tipperary from 1984 to 1990. Kieran was then transferred to Castlepollard for a short while, before being stationed in Mullingar in 1991.
“I spent 11 years on regular units and was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2002 before being assigned to Store Street, Dublin. While in Store Street, I was assigned responsibility for policing and crowd controls which included the time of the construction of the spire on O’Connell Street. During the completion of the last section of the spire, O’Connell Street was closed and there were over 10,000 people watching.
Another memory from his time in Store Street was Kieran’s appearance on the RTE series ‘Naked Camera’. “I met up with Jake Stephens during the making of one of the productions of ‘Naked Camera’ and I featured in the first series of the programme, and just by coincidence that programme was filmed at The Spire.”
GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIP
While working in Mullingar, Kieran was involved in policing plans for festivals and sporting events. “I had a very good working relationship with various organisations throughout the town and in particular I enjoyed working with Westmeath GAA at Cusack Park. One of my important roles as Sergeant in Charge was the preparation of policing plans for major events such as the Life Festival, and sporting events in the town, such as the St Patrick’s Day parade and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the organisers of such events.”
Kieran, who was transferred to Athlone in 2005 and then back to Mullingar in 2006, was disappointed to see the closure of Columb Barracks in Mullingar, but he has maintained a friendship with former colleagues from the 4th Infantry Battalion/regiment now based in Athlone.
PROUDEST
ACHIEVEMENT
Married to Rosemary, with three sons, Ronan, Brian and Eoghan, Kieran always had an special interest in the building where he worked. “As Sergeant in Charge, I sought to improve the facilities in the Mullingar Garda Station building, which dates back to 1900, and the new custody suite is probably my proudest achievement. It is now used as a template for development of custody suites in Garda stations throughout Ireland. I have also successfully overseen significant investment in the refurbishment of the building which was in poor repair when I took over in 2008.”
WILL BE MISSED
Not surprisingly, after such a lengthy period spent in Mullingar and dealing with the local people, Kieran is going to miss the day to day life of Mullingar and the people that make the town what it is.
“I’m going to miss working in Mullingar. I had a good relationship with the town business people, the general public and my colleagues in the Garda district of Mullingar, as well as my friends in the local media. Also, I am forever grateful for the support of my loyal colleague and office assistant, Sheila Kelly, who ensured the Office of Sergeant in Charge was at all times meeting the required standards.”
“As Sergeant in Charge, I did my utmost to ensure that all members of the public and the Garda and civilian personnel attached to Mullingar Garda were treated with dignity and respect at all times.”
Kieran Williams will undoubtedly be greatly missed by all he worked with so diligently around the country, but particularly those he served in and around the town of Mullingar over the past number of years.
For Kieran, it is time to sit back, relax and enjoy his retirement, and we wish him the very best.