remains found shergar

On February 8, 1983, an armed gang burst into the home of Shergar's groom at Ballymany Stud farm in the Curragh, Co Kildare, forced him to load it into a horsebox and drove off, creating a mystery even beyond the imagination of Dick Francis, the celebrated racing novelist. The man, who asked not to be identified, said only an expert should kill a horse - there is a spot the size of a thumb nail on the animal's head which the bullet, or humane killer, has to hit to prevent suffering. SHERGAR was arguably the most valuable and famous racehorse in the world. A week later, The Irish Times reported that a loaded magazine from a semi-automatic rifle was found near the outside wall of Ballymany Stud and recognised as the kind used by the Provisional IRA in south Armagh. What happened to Shergar, when was he kidnapped and where But the next year - when 55 mares were lined up to breed from Shergar - everything changed. Tommy Foley, from Tralee in Co Kerry, said he found the remains of the I had never been in the horse racing world before. Copyright 2023 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. According to OCallaghan, Shergar had become agitated during transport, badly damaging a leg. WebShergar's remains have never been found and the thieves have never been officially identified. We want $3 million for him.". Lord Lucan and the Mafia In 2008, the Sunday Telegraph took a closer look at the cold "An operation of this intensity requiring this amount of manpower would have to have been authorised at a high level," he said. . When it comes to breeding, there are multiple ranch and Quarter horse bloodlines famous for producing top-quality horses. An Irish councillor claims he had discovered the head of horse racing legend Shergar. She draws out of her handbag during our interview a horseshoe given to her by the retired farrier who used to shoe Shergar every month. Alison, who has been fascinated by the disappearance of Shergar since her early years, researched the existing material meticulously and found some of the so-called 'exclusives' less than accurate. "I have never gone along with the theory that he was too hard to control because he was the quietest, gentlest horse, with a bombproof temperament.". I could hardly see it for tears, Doreen Swinburn, Walters mother, remembers of her joy when we speak by telephone. "There Was Blood Everywhere": What Really Happened to Shergar Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. He was astonished to find it was pierced by two bullet holes. View our online Press Pack. The other - "a very senior IRA man" - agreed to talk to her off the record. Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2011, First Down Dash is arguably the greatest race sire of all time. Shergar's memorable ten-length Epsom Derby victory of 1981. Others, including the IRA, argued that O'Callaghan, who died in a swimming pool accident in Jamaica last August, could not be trusted , given how he had spent a long period of his life as an informer against republicans. There was blood everywhere and the horse even slipped on his own blood. Shergar won at a canter and the chief anticipation at Epsom was whether the sensational three-year-old and his young jockey would handle the enormous expectation. His peerless season, remember, coincided with the dark, muggy summer of the Hunger Strikes. It is speculated that he is likely buried on the property of an IRA veteran, which would make gaining approval or permission to dig for remains almost impossible. When the news broke, media from around the world descended on the Republic and three leading racing journalists were asked to come to Northern Ireland in a phone call apparently from the kidnappers. BBC News Rutgers is studying the fragments to determine exactly what was found on the site of long-abandoned church. All that energy, all that life. Some said it was the Mafia in retaliation for a horse deal with the Aga Khan that had gone wrong. The events of February 1983 threatened that ecosystem. But no.. "I would love to see this mystery resolved so that we all knew what happened to the horse's remains. Remains were never Two stayed behind to "guard" the groom's family and Mr Fitzgerald was forced into a car. There was lots of cussin' and swearin' because the horse wouldn't die. An Irish councillor claims he had discovered the head of horse racing legend Shergar. From that, she was able to confirm that it was, indeed, the IRA who took the horse, killed it shortly afterwards and buried it near the Northern Ireland border. A convicted killer from Co. Tyrone, he eventually became part of IRA folklore after shooting his way out of one prison and being lifted by helicopter from another. Des Leadon, the head of clinical pathology at the Irish Equine Centre, who has investigated a number of horse corpses that were believed to have been Shergar, said DNA testing would have to be used to determine if the skull belonged to the missing horse. Other members of the gang backed up a van. I was just fascinated by the story. "We decided to go into the extreme end of the glen this year where there was a lot of dumping taking place. Shergar Discover the real Ireland, how you can travel slow around the island, Dubliner adopted to New York at birth reunites with Irish family 63 years later, Catholic Church launches initiative encouraging young Irish men to consider priesthood, Killarney National Park in "terrible state" after years of neglect, conference hears, Great Famine Voices 2023 Launch New Season of Films, Ireland of the Welcomes' hot hotel: The Savoy Hotel Limerick, WATCH: 1916 Easter Rising footage featured in British Path online archives, Mustard and herb lamb chops with honey dressing recipe. I found that really strange. "I can tell you, I didn't look around once - I was happy to be on the ground," he said in a broad Co Kildare accent. Years later, there were still whispers that Shergar was alive and secretly producing foals whose breeding lines could never be divulged. The bay colt was owned by the Aga Khan, the billionaire spiritual leader to 15 million Ismaili Muslims. The Sunday Telegraph has been told that four days after Shergar was seized, and following extensive stalling by the Aga Khan's representative, the Army Council realised their equine "property" was worthless and told the gang to release the horse. Alison has no doubt. Mallon, a convicted killer originally from Co Tyrone, eventually became part of IRA folklore after shooting his way out of one prison and being lifted by helicopter from another. Shergar sired 35 foals, including Authaal, who was bought as a yearling by Sheikh Mohammed for Ir3,100,000gns and went on to win the Irish St Leger, and Maysoon, who won the Fred Darling Stakes and reached the places in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks. It was several hours before the Garda were informed, but by then there were no clues. He was out on the paddock with some bullocks. Now, however, an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph to mark the 25th anniversary of the horse's kidnapping finally solves the puzzle of Shergar's final hours, why his remains have never been found and how the Garda, the Irish police, bungled their investigation. Then, pointing their guns at 58-year-old Mr Fitzgerald, they marched him across the road to the luxurious stud. Nothing more was heard from them again. Some believe the IRA snatched the horse, as they were looking for new sources of funding around the same time. He found his way to a telephone and rang his brother - this phone call led to a series of phone calls between Shergars shareholders, his vet, racing associates and several Irish Ministers. Another engaged a trio of racing correspondents from London to travel to the Europa Hotel in Belfast to await further instructions. Human remains discovered in a plastic container left on a street in The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. His 306 foals went on to produce such legends as 1964 Derby and Preakness winner Northern Dancer, who himself sired 645 named foals; Mr. At gunpoint they led Mr Fitzgerald's wife and their five children into one room and locked the door. I did find though that people honestly didnt want to talk about it. He proved infertile as a stallion, as none of the 34 mares bred to him became pregnant. He became the first racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby starting from last place winning in under 2-minutes. Where is the animal buried? Who is the greatest female horse of all time? Horse Profile and Mysterious Disappearance of Shergar Our inquiries led photographer Julian Andrews and me to Ballinamore, a town in Co Leitrim once known as "the Falls Road of the South" because of its support for the Provos. Hes dead.. Kidnapped racehorse Shergar was the centre of a 2 million ransom mystery last night. But detectives admitted they know nothing yet about the gang. It is almost impossible now to watch the footage of Shergar striding away from the field, 10 lengths clear in the Epsom Derby no horse has won it by such a margin before or since without thinking of the cruelty and lonesomeness of his last hours. One group took the horse. Fitzgerald was then forced into their car at gunpoint. Chief Supt James "Spud" Murphy became the darling of the media for his bizarre pronouncements and his determination to use psychics and mediums to try to solve the case. Although there was some dissent, the members of the syndicate owning shares in Shergar refused to countenance paying over any money and, shortly afterwards, all contact was ended and the mystery deepened. Gerry Reynolds, a businessman and politician who was born and brought up in Ballinamore, said: "There were always a lot of rumours that the individuals involved in the kidnapping of Don Tidey were also involved in the kidnapping of Shergar.". Stan was such a compassionate man at the top of his game. Alison stresses that the programme, which is screened next week on BBC One Northern Ireland, is a documentary, not an investigation, but it obviously required much research. The remains of a Cherry Hill man reported missing by his family earlier this year were found by a hunter this week in a state park, authorities said.. Peter Myers, 68, There was blood everywhere, and the horse even slipped on his own blood. As his son, Bernard, answered it, three masked and armed men barged their way in and started ordering the family around. Red Rum died on 18 October 1995, aged 30. No horse has ever recorded a greater winning margin in the famous race. I do. He said the scene that greeted him at Belfast airport was unreal: "It was like being a film star. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. (modern). Owner the Aga Khan sold 34 shares in the horse at 250,000 each and kept another six for himself, valuing it at 10m. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the IRA, and the US Mafia have all been suggested. The sinister end to a beautiful episode in Irish sport; the freakish clash of paramilitarism and high-end horse breeding and the abrupt and sudden silence has made Shergar seem like a symbol of everything that was warped about Ireland on both sides of the Border. Those hairs would be invaluable DNA evidence if any remains of the animal are ever found. There was widespread relief when at the end of his career, instead of being shipped to one of the large American studs as expected, Shergar was returned to his birthplace of Ireland. The bay colt was owned by the Aga Khan, the billionaire spiritual leader to 15 million Ismaili Muslims, was trained by Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket and was ridden by the "choirboy", an angelic looking 19-year-old jockey called Walter Swinburn, who now trains in Britain. He was expected to be a source of profit for the syndicate which owned him. Tests carried out at the Irish Equine Centre, in County Kildare, found the skull belonged to a much younger horse than the racing legend was when he was abducted. "Thirty-five years after the horse was taken from its stable in Kildare, I wanted to do my own documentary, and the letters proved invaluable in pointing me in certain directions. Bred by the Aga Khan in County Kildare not too far from the stud from which he was eventually taken, Shergar was trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Newmarket. He was ordered to point out Shergar's box. And he came up to Walter and he grabbed his jacket. Hes with his father Wally; boyish, serious, not remotely fazed. Published by Jennifer Webster on November 28, 2022. The Irish Sea Helped "I was there with a farmer's son and he said it was not an ordinary horse.". Thompson received a phone call the next day from the kidnappers - they said, "The horse has had an accident. What did Cleo sMITHs abductor do to her? In June 1981 he threw his stable lad and bolted during a workout at Newmarket. Here we look back on how the Mirror reported the crime at the time. Shergar It was a very bloody death.. One of them, with the revolver, was very aggressive," said Mr Fitzgerald, at his end-of-terrace home in Newbridge, just three miles from the stud. They found the horse just as they imagined. It was several minutes before Shergar bled to death. Family history, family mystery - where did my Irish great-grandfather end up? Human remains found at Rutgers-Newark? Officials expected this It is also unlikely that any provision was made for kidnapping in other insurance for the horse.". He received a rapturous welcome on his homecoming to the Curragh for the Irish Derby. But even around the area where the horses remains are alleged to be . There was lots of cussin' and swearin' because the horse wouldn't die. The plot, hairbrained as it turned out, was to gain a ransom for the record-breaking Epsom Derby winner. However, Nicky Kehoe, who was also named by O'Callaghan in his book as a member of the IRA kidnap gang, denied any involvement. Doreen Swinburn cant remember the precise date, but Walter Swinburn did, at least, get another chance to say hello to Shergar far away from the thrilling crowds. That September, after Shergar finished a disappointing fourth in the St Leger, the Aga Khan decided to retire his prize horse from racing and return him to stud at Ballymany. ", Jim Fitzgerald, Shergar's former groom with a photograph of the prize bay stallion: 'He was a grand horse', Kevin Mallon, a convicted killer and senior IRA leader who has been identified as the man behind the plot, The Aga Khan owned six of the 40 shares in Shergar, Donald Trump to arrive in UK in week of Coronation, I wasnt good at being a performing monkey, King reveals in BBC documentary, Sadiq Khans Ulez has turned centre of London into a ghost town, I took a pay cut to get a public sector pension, Technology and slow growth will destroy 14 million jobs by 2027, Jewish leaders want to meet Guardian editor over anti-Semitic Richard Sharp cartoon, Brough Scott: Extraordinary racing machine's callous end. The IRA has privately tried to blame renegade members for the kidnap, but Kevin O'Connor, a historian and journalist with top Republican contacts, dismisses this idea. Shergar became a father for the first time a week ago when a bay colt [pictured top left on the newspaper page above] who looks remarkably like him was born at the Irish stud. And I wanted to capture this love story that Ireland had with this beautiful beast. The IRA plan was naive: they assumed they were blackmailing the Aga Khan for a ransom of 2 million. WebShergar No one has ever admitted responsibility for the incident, and the remains of the horse have never been found. Insurers refused to pay out without proof of the horse's death. But it wasnt just any horse. The search for the last resting place of Shergar It was the world's most famous racehorse when it was kidnapped by an armed IRA gang in 1983 and . He refused to entertain the idea of bowing to the kidnappers' demands. Jubilee Farm: The sanctuary in Larne helping refugees and asylum seekers, Life as a pet dog photographer: My rescue dog saved me, now Ive turned my passion into a business, What is Prime Hydration? The champion racehorse won the 1981 Derby by a record of 10 lengths. In an apparent bid to receive a pay out, jailed IRA informant Seon O'Callagan claimed the horse died within 24 hours. He flew to Belfast to negotiate at the Europa Hotel. He made it look so easy. After a few miles, Mr Fitzgerald was ordered to get out of the car, to keep walking, not to turn around and not to call the police. Shergar's former jockey Walter Swinburn was distressed by the paper's findings. How much should we talk about our private life at work? Before the kidnap, Shergar was worth 10m. What Colors Can Rocky Mountain Horses Be? "People know where Shergar is buried, but the rehearsed silence is unbreakable.". An Irish councillor claims he had discovered the head of horse racing legend Shergar. This meant there were two parallel inquiries, with the two forces refusing to share information. Alison adds: "The letters also set the context for the period, and when we were fitting the jigsaw together, we never found a piece missing.

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