Sunday 21st February 1988

On the morning of Sunday 21st February 1988, Aidan took his mother Lizzie to a family funeral in Clara, Carrickroe, Co Monaghan where he made plans with Mickey Muldoon to see The Wolfe Tones in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan with his brother Vincie later that night.

*One of the last photos taken of Aidan before his murder.*

After midday, Aidan returned from the funeral through the checkpoint at Aughnacloy. He was held there for around two hours before returning back home, where he fed a couple of cattle he had and lit a fire for when his mother got home. He then collected his gear and left for the football pitch to tog out for Aghaloo O’Neill’s GFC who were playing neighbouring club Killeeshil St Mary’s GFC in the Jim Devlin Cup.

To prevent getting delayed and searched yet again, Aidan parked his car at Coronation Park (northern side of the checkpoint), on the Monaghan Road, Aughnacloy and walked through the permanent checkpoint towards the Aghaloo GFC grounds with his sports bag, 500 yards down the road.

*Aidan’s car (left) pictured at Coronation Park, Aughnacloy the day of his murder.*

*A general view of Aughnacloy checkpoint the day of Aidan’s murder including the sanger window where Aidan was shot from (right).*

At approximately 2.50pm, a shot rang out from the checkpoint. Aidan had been struck by a single bullet in the back.

People ran to Aidan’s aid after seeing an individual was lying on the Monaghan road, injured but still alive. Cars continued to drive around Aidan on the road, unsure of what had just happened.

Killeeshil GFC manager Brendan Holland was driving through the checkpoint when the shooting occurred.

Raymond McKearney who was at Aghaloo GFC gives his account of the shooting.

Immediately after the shot rang out, out a number of eye witnesses in Coronation Park witnessed and heard laughing and cheering coming from the checkpoint before a RUC policeman and a man in plain clothes/ tracksuit and sports shoes being driven away in a landrover from the scene.

Bridie McElroy and Martina Mulgrew witnessed the immediate aftermath.

*Aerial view of Aughnacloy checkpoint showing the lookout post where the shots were fired from and the position of Aidan where he was hit over 283 metres away.*

Members of Aghaloo and Killeeshil GFC came to Aidan’s aid. They could see he was bleeding heavily and was losing consciousness. Many reached Aidan as he was taking his last breaths.

Aghaloo’s John Cuddy also arrived at the scene.

Aughnacloy GP Dr McCord arrived shortly after as well as Aghaloo P.P. Fr Seamus McManus who administered the Last Rites to Aidan but he died at the scene.

News of Aidan’s death spread quickly throughout the town and both sides of the border.

*The Monaghan Road where Aidan was shot at the corner beyond Todd’s Garage.*

*Scene of the shooting with two cones marking apparent bullet strikes on the road.*

*A general view of Aughnacloy checkpoint in 1988.*

Around 1am on Monday 22nd February, Aidan’s body was returned to his family following an autopsy where he was waked at his family home.