Gardaí investigating a 1972 bombing in Co Cavan, in which two children were killed, have issued an appeal for information.
On 28 December 1972, three no-warning bombs exploded in Belturbet, Co Cavan; Clones, Co Monaghan; and Mullnagoad, Pettigo, in Co Donegal.
A bomb, which was placed in a red Ford Escort, exploded outside Farrelly's Bar and McGowan's Drapery on Main Street in Belturbet at 10.28pm that night.
Patrick Stanley, aged 16, and 15-year-old Geraldine O'Reilly were both killed and eight other people were injured.
Shortly before that, at 10.01pm, a bomb went off in a blue Morris 1100 in Fermanagh Street, Clones.
Two men were seriously injured in the blast and on 4 January 1973, local man Patrick McCabe died when he fell from the roof he was repairing that was damaged in the bomb, leaving a wife and eight children.
The third bomb went off at 10.50pm on 28 December 1972, outside a licensed premises called Britton's in Mullnagoad. The bomb had been left beside the pub in a container. One person was injured in that incident.
This morning, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern, Cavan/ Monaghan/Louth Garda Division appealed to the public for any information that would help identify the driver of the stolen red Ford Escort; to identify the driver and occupants of a Blue Ford Cortina registration number BIA 477, which had been stolen from Main Street in Belturbet.
Gardaí also want to identify certain individuals in Belturbet on 28 December 1972, one of whom was wearing a distinctive 'DUNLOP' jacket.
Another man, who was seen driving a stolen Morris 1100 in Northern Ireland, was described as having missing fingers.
The car that contained the Clones bomb was a blue Morris 1100, registration number 431 LZ, had been stolen from a car park in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, between 6.30pm and 7.35pm on 28 December.
The driver of the Blue Ford Cortina (photofit below) is described as being 18 years old, 1.72m (5'8") in height with a thin build and a long, thin pale face with long dark brown curly hair, a very conspicious nose was wearing a dark double-breasted blazer with wide lapels, collar and tie and wore a silver or steel band around his wrist.
Chief Superintendent McGovern said: "There are people out there, who know who carried out these crimes. They may not have been able to speak at that time or since. Perhaps relationships have changed, and with the increasing passage of time, maybe they feel able to speak or as they are getting older, now may want to speak before an opportunity to do so is lost.
"I ask them to make contact with the investigation team and to help An Garda Síochána get answers for the families of those killed and injured in Belturbet, Clones or Pettigo."
Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn added: "We are appealing for people here and in Northern Ireland to consider the matters raised today - does anything jog a memory? Do you have any information that might assist? 50 years have passed; families have suffered indescribably; parents have gone to their graves without answers.
"Do you know something you have you held a secret for too long? It's never too late to talk - please contact us."
A dedicated investigation team under a Senior Investigating Officer has been established at an incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station.
The team can be contacted at Ballyconnell Garda Station on 049 9525580, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666111, Crimestoppers on 1800 250025 or Crimestoppers Northern Ireland on 0800 555 111.
