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. When Alison set out to make the documentary, she figured that 35 years after the kidnapping and the new atmosphere in Ireland - at that time the Troubles were at their height - tongues may have been loosened and people would be more willing to talk about the incident. Red Rum died on 18 October 1995, aged 30. The stallion had a white blaze mark on his face, four white "socks" and a distinctive racing style of running with his tongue hanging out - he was gentle, calm and kind. But there was an important difference between the two. But this turned out to be an elaborate hoax and the real negotiations were going on between. He was astonished to find it was pierced by two bullet holes. On the cold, muggy evening of February 8, 1983, Shergar was kidnapped by a gang of men in balaclavas, thought to be part of the IRA. The source said that the two handlers, one clutching a machine gun, went into the remote stable where the horse was being held and opened fire. There was blood everywhere and the horse even slipped on his own blood. 8 Incredible Facts About Red Rum (Records, Stats, Foals Shergar was hailed as the greatest racehorse of all time when he won the 1981 Epsom Derby. The Ballymany Stud is located in County Kildare, Ireland. They all suffered in some way. Someone has daubed "PIRA [Provisional IRA]" in purple crayon on his white garden wall. The kidnappers had agreed to negotiate with a man named Derek Thompson who had worked for ITVs racing team. of Shergar. Some horses are treated similar to pets, kept for their companionship and entertainment value. Inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2011, First Down Dash is arguably the greatest race sire of all time. 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. She laughs at the memory before another thought occurs. When it comes to breeding, there are multiple ranch and Quarter horse bloodlines famous for producing top-quality horses. And Walter was laughing. I was just fascinated by the story. Shergar I had never been in the horse racing world before. At gunpoint they led Mr Fitzgerald's wife and their five children into one room and locked the door. The Aga Khan was amazing. "I can still remember that night in that car with them lads. If that was not bad enough insurers refused to pay him out, insisting there was no proof that the horse was, indeed, dead. I do. "Shergar was machine gunned to death. He was a very kind horse. But the horse was kidnapped by an armed gang in 1983. there was this silence.. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. A gorgeous few minutes of television interview exists with Walter Swinburn, utterly unflappable and just 19 when he rode Shergar to victory. Another would not cause any attention. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. One of them, with the revolver, was very aggressive," Mr. Fitzgerald told the Telegraph about his ride in the kidnappers car. Shergar Next Wednesday (8th of Feb) is the 29th Anniversary of the The odds shrank to 8/1: Baerlein warned that those odds would again halve if Shergar triumphed at the Chester Vase. One of the yarns that grew out of that day is that when the younger Swinburn treated himself to an ice-pop, the vendor offered a cheery Have a nice, day, son, not realising he was serving the Derby-winning jockey. The most valuable horse in the world disappeared without trace. Nobody has ever been charged with the theft. It is 25 years since a world-famous racehorse was kidnapped by the IRA, never to be seen again. The hunt for Shergar created a huge media storm - everyone in the UK and Ireland were hell-bent on getting him back, and the Dublin police had offered an over $150,000 reward for his return. Shergar, scheduled to cover up to 55 mares a year, has put 42 of his first 44 mares in foal. The stud farm was Ireland's main racecourse and training grounds. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Tommy Foley, from Tralee in Co Kerry, said he found the remains of the stallion's skull last Saturday during an annual clean up of a glen outside the West Ireland town. Lawyer Owen Tebbs, who organised the syndicate for the Aga, said: "It is quite likely many have not taken out insurance. Love Irish history? The kidnappers had chosen the day before Ireland's major Goff's racehorse sale - when horse boxes were being driven the length and breadth of the country - to abduct Shergar, thereby making it more difficult for the stallion to be found. Using coded phrases, the kidnappers soon began negotiations with a representative of the Aga Khan over the telephone but made sure to hang up before 90 seconds passed so that authorities couldnt track their location. Police said the kidnappers did just that after driving away with their prize. When he retired after that first season, racehorse owners paid up to $120,000 for shares in his services impregnating mares, eager to have young horses from his bloodline to train for races. The question you have to ask is: why else would anyone use a pistol to shoot a racehorse? Some said it was the Mafia in retaliation for a horse deal with the Aga Khan that had gone wrong. Shortly after 8.30pm on February 8, 1983, Jim Fitzgerald, then 53, the head groom who lived at the stud, heard a knock on his door. . And Walter was just an excellent horseman.. He said the scene that greeted him at Belfast airport was unreal: "It was like being a film star. It was quite a character of a horse. Other members of the gang backed up a van. Mr Kehoe, a former Sinn Fein councillor, said he had not sued O'Callaghan because nobody believed him: "He was working for both sides - that's as much as you need to know about what he has to say.". At least six thugs arrived at the stud farm at around 8.30pm and held Jim Fitzgerald, head groom, at gunpoint. Negotiations were conducted with the thieves, but the gang broke off all communication However because of the media attention and massive police search for the horse it was decided that would be impossible without incriminating the kidnappers so the horse was shot. The truth about Shergar racehorse kidnapping - The Telegraph Don Tidey, an Irish businessman, was found alive in woods near the town after being kidnapped by the IRA at the end of 1983, months after Shergar's disappearance. It was a very bloody death." Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, 5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code, Save 200 on 2023 holidays with this TUI discount code, Save 5% on hotel bookings with this Barcelo promo code, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. View our online Press Pack. Olly Murs breaks down on stage over Caroline Flack 'regret', Fulham's Pereira stretchered off with suspected broken leg in worrying scenes, One dead and seven injured as knifeman goes on bloody rampage near club, 'Meghan killed me - then she mourns me', says estranged dad Thomas Markle, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Lord Lucan and the Mafia In 2008, the Sunday Telegraph took a closer look at the cold 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. Owner the Aga Khan sold 34 shares in the horse at 250,000 each and kept another six for himself, valuing it at 10m. Stan was such a compassionate man at the top of his game. He said: "If Shergar is harmed in any way it will do untold damage to the whole bloodstock industry. Last night police chief Mr Murphy appealed to the gang to return Shergar unharmed. That is something we haven't got," he once said. A decade ago Sean O'Callaghan, an IRA double killer turned police double agent, used his book, The Informer, to name seven former Provos he claimed had planned and carried out the horse's kidnap. Alan Dukes, the local MP and Irish finance minister, was then woken by a phone call from Mr Berry telling him of Shergar's kidnapping. He was stolen at night along with his groom, who was held at gunpoint in the horse van before being released 20 miles away. Revered Irish racehorse Shergar was taken at gunpoint from Ballymany Stud in County Kildare on February 8, 1983, and never seen again. 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. Yes, it is awful, it was a racehorse at the top of its game; yes, it was killed, disappeared. The IRA, in one of its most audacious plans, abducted the 1981 Derby winner from the Ballymany stud, in Co Kildare. He opened it to find two men wearing balaclavas wielding guns - one of them said, We have come for Shergar. From revolutionaries to royalty, Toby covers the A former IRA member told the Sunday Telegraph: "Shergar was machine-gunned to death. WebShergar No one has ever admitted responsibility for the incident, and the remains of the horse have never been found. In 2004, he vowed never to talk about the incident again, but Alison managed to get him to speak to camera. In coldly commercial terms, Shergar was an international commodity: breeding fees went for 80,000. He received a rapturous welcome on his homecoming to the Curragh for the Irish Derby. Shergar's former jockey Walter Swinburn was distressed by the paper's findings. Revered Irish racehorse Shergar was taken at gunpoint from Ballymany Stud in County Kildare on February 8, 1983, and never seen again. With an intense garda hunt taking place across the country and the ransom process now a shambles, a decision was made to end the operation. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the IRA, and the US Mafia have all been suggested. Many sources and investigators believe that he must be buried near Aughnasheelin, near Ballinamore, County Leitrim. Millars research brought her to Leitrim and the wild landscape outside Ballinamore. Thieves stole a life-size statue of the triple Grand National winner, Red Rum, from a house in East Meon, Hampshire. Shergar, 40 years on: Codenames, kidnap, clairvoyants and a There was lots of cussin' and swearin' because the horse wouldn't die. In 2018, the Belfast-based documentary maker succeeded in making a film, Searching for Shergar, which is at once a warm evocation of his splendid life and an examination of the eerie void left by the manner of his death. Hunter discovers skeletal remains of N.J. man missing for months But no.. They are hardly being bumped off in such a fashion all over Ireland, are they?". To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The IRA has never officially claimed responsibility for stealing the beloved horse. They insisted on dealing only with the Aga Khans office in Paris. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Two stayed behind to "guard" the groom's family and Mr Fitzgerald was forced into a car. In 1981 he ran in six races, winning five of them. Who was the greatest racehorse sire of all time? WebShergar has never been found. And they would go: yes, somebody knows, but we have to move on, love, we dont want to talk about it. But in emotional terms, Shergar also represented something that was even more priceless in 1981: an uncomplicated Irish success story. Wed seen her hair was cut, her hair was dyed, Ellie said during her 60 Minutes exclusive on Sunday. In February 1983, at the height of The Troubles, Ireland faced a truly mysterious crime that remains virtually unsolved. Sadly still hasn't been found today just guessing. Human remains discovered in a plastic container left on a street in And when I was looking at this horse, I was thinking: why is there such silence and controversy? The IRA's operations were heavily disrupted as every known Republican stronghold and safe house was raided in the hunt for the horse which, in turn, led to the seizure of several arms caches. Where is the animal buried? A shocked Mr Fitzgerald was able to give only a rough outline of the raid. Shergar mystery revived as skull is found | UK news | The Guardian "Shergar was a grand horse and he deserved better. "When I saw the names he mentioned, I knew right away that what he was saying in the letters was right," she says. Shergar was retired to stud at the end of its Derby-winning year and immediately became the most valuable horse at that time. Foaled on March 3rd, 1978 at The Aga Khans stud at Sheshoon, Shergars dam, Sharmeen, was a descendent of Mumtaz Mahal, in turn the daughter of The Tetrarch, foaled at the Straffan stud in Kildare in 1911 and one of the most influential host lines of the last century. Using a coded phrase - King Neptune - that had been given to Mr Fitzgerald during the kidnap, those holding the horse soon began secret negotiations with a representative of the Aga Khan. As the hunt for Shergar continued on both sides of the border, the gang's background was still a mystery. He then hung up. O'Callaghan suggested the horse had thrown itself into a frenzy, injured a leg and that it was put out of its misery and "was killed within days even though the IRA kept up the pretence that he was alive". 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. About 100 cameramen and journalists were in or outside the Europa Hotel as Thompson and his co-negotiators arrived. The horse was much-loved and a celebrity in itself, and was a five-year old embarking on his second year out to stud when three armed men wearing masks burst into Ballymany threatening the head groom Jim Fitzgerald and his family. A mystery man said he had information the horse was still alive and he could pinpoint where it was being held. 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. By far the most popular set of events is that the horse, worth 10million in 1983, was taken for ransom by the IRA thinking it was owned by the fabulously wealthy Aga Khan who would pay a fortune to get the champion back. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. In an apparent bid to receive a pay out, jailed IRA 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. Aghrasheeling translates as "meadow of the fairies", but are people still spinning fairy stories? Horses are often Read more, Horsehair is used for the crafts of horsehair hitching, horsehair braiding, pottery, and in making jewelry items such as bracelets, necklaces, earrings and barrettes. More are on the way. A TERROR chief who was publicly accused of being behind the Shergar kidnapping nips down to the bookies on the anniversary of the legendary racehorses disappearance. The dark humour disguised the less palatable truth that Ireland, the Banana Republic, couldnt even cherish and safeguard one of the most gorgeous animals the world had seen. Several owners are understood to have failed to win insurance payouts because, with no body ever found, there was no proof that the stallion was dead. She says: "Sean wrote letters from Maghaberry to Liam on a frequent basis, sometimes two a week, during the early-1990s. Many in the Republic, including broad Republican sympathisers, would never have forgiven the IRA and its political wing, Sinn Fein, for machine gunning the equine pride of the nation in cold blood. According to OCallaghan, Shergar had become agitated during transport, badly damaging a leg. He was astonished to find it was pierced by two bullet holes. He flew to Belfast to negotiate at the Europa Hotel. But I couldnt understand why the way we talk about silence and fear in relation to the past on this island extended to this horse. 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. I could hardly see it for tears, Doreen Swinburn, Walters mother, remembers of her joy when we speak by telephone. "There is a possibility that it was him because when Shergar was abducted there was a Kerry connection.". Family history, family mystery - where did my Irish great-grandfather end up? He said he had long suspected that the horse, in the hands of non-experts, had met a lingering death "crazed with pain". But four hours later, he was released and found 40 miles away from the stud farm. He proved infertile as a stallion, as none of the 34 mares bred to him became pregnant. I did find though that people honestly didnt want to talk about it. Read more, Known in the industry as fake tails, these pieces, just like the best hairpieces for humans, are made from real hair and braided into existing locks to add length and volume. His US Triple Crown performances ingrained his place in history. WebShergars body has never been recovered or identified. I received various messages after the film and all sorts of controversial theories afterwards that I was emailed. There, he was syndicated for 10 million (40 shares worth 250,000 each, six of which were kept by the Aga Khan) to stand at stud. Mystery of Shergar: famous Irish horse kidnap - IrishCentral.com "No horse deserves an ending like that - let alone one as special as Shergar. But even around the area where the horses remains are alleged to be . Police were But as hopes faded, the late Detective Chief Superintendent James Murphy, who was leading the inquiry, uttered the immortal line: "If we find the body, we will treat it like any other murder investigation.". Some believe the IRA snatched the horse, as they were looking for new sources of funding around the same time. 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. He seemed unbeatable - until the St Leger, when he trailed in fourth after starting a hot favourite. The kidnappers are widely thought to have been IRA members but much less is known for sure about subsequent events, and Shergar's remains have never been found, while the IRA have never admitted any role in the theft or its aftermath. And I want to say the police will block any attempt to pay any ransom.". He refused to entertain the idea of bowing to the kidnappers' demands. On Monday, August 8, 2022, an inmate in the Polk County Detention Center led the Polk County Sheriffs Office to skeletal remains in a shallow grave west of It was a very bloody death.". Sporting Controversies: The brutal, sad and mysterious tale of Shergar ran just eight races in his short life, winning six times. 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. . But the end of the case did not deter others on the hunt. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "A clue? Shergar's former jockey Walter Swinburn, who rode Shergar at his famous race, was distressed by the findings. And I wanted to capture this love story that Ireland had with this beautiful beast. "I would love to see this mystery resolved so that we all knew what happened to the horse's remains. Shergar and Mr Fitzgerald were put inside. By now there were up to eight gunmen on the scene. When she spoke with people, she found them friendly but reticent Once back home, Mr Fitzgerald found his family unharmed. Shergar is insured for nearly 4 million, only a fraction of his value. The abduction sparked a massive hunt, but, according to a former IRA terrorist, Sean O'Callaghan, Shergar was killed within days. Kidnapped horse Shergar's fate unknown "We want 2 million if you want the horse back in one piece," they said. Searching for Shergar, BBC One Northern Ireland, Thursday, June 7, Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, Please check your inbox to verify your details, I thought Id be hauled over the coals, but my boss suggested I see a doctor. But Ballinamore has form. 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. The next day, another call came through with the following message: The horse has had an accident. If they had wanted to steal a horse, they couldnt have found a kinder horse,' said Doreen Swinburn. And when he was released, he spent two of three weeks with us.". Four hours later he was released, still blindfolded but unharmed, near Dublin. We want 2 million [ransom] for him," one said. Shergar, 20 years gone but not forgotten Insurers refused to pay out without proof of the horse's death. WebShergar was stolen from the Aga Khan's stud farm by an armed gang on 8 February 1983. In a neat turn of phrase, Alison says: "They thought this horse would be their cash cow.". Why Does My Horse Bob Is Head When I Put His Bridle On? Kidnapped racehorse Shergar was the centre of a 2 million ransom mystery last night. The Sunday Telegraph also tracked down Kevin Mallon to his seafront home in Howth, eight miles from Dublin city centre. Jockey Walter Swinburn, who rode Shergar in most of his races, was in India yesterday and had not been told about the horse's disappearance. He became a breeding stallion in Ireland with an impressive fertility rate, and still attracted crowds. the gang and the Aga Khan. Shergar was valued at 10million when he disappeared. In February 1983, The other IRA figure was Kieran Conway, a one-time intelligence chief of the organisation, who had rejoined the organisation after the 1981 hunger strikes. The disappearance of the iconic racehorse, suspected to be the work of the IRA, has fascinated people for more than three decades. All rights reserved. Vanilla Ice: loves his racing, baby BBC Vanilla Ice said: I love horses, I love watching them. "The police from Dublin told me not to tell Murphy anything," Capt Berry said. 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. Walter Swinburn on Shergar after his runaway victory in the Epsom Derby in 1981. (modern). Mr Cosgrove, in turn, rang his friend, former Army officer Captain Sean Berry. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! In February 1983, Shergar was kidnapped from his stable in Kildare, held for ransom, and brutally killed by his captors who havent been identified. The failure to find Shergar's body meant that only members of the syndicate who had insured the horse for theft - as well as death or an accident - were compensated by their insurance companies. The bronze, a replica of a statue at Aintree, is worth pounds 10,000. "I do not believe any ransom will be paid. The most famous and valuable racehorse in the world, Shergar had won the 1981 Epsom Derby by ten lengths, which is the longest winning margin in the race's 202-year history. "We decided to go into the extreme end of the glen this year where there was a lot of dumping taking place. He was out on the paddock with some bullocks. The description speaks of the low ignorance of the moment. And there is a separate sadness, too, in that Swinburn, after coming through the vicissitudes of flat racing, would die from injuries sustained from an accidental fall at his home in London, in 2016. 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. Shergar Horse and Jockey figurine As his son, Bernard, answered it, three masked and armed men barged their way in and started ordering the family around. "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.". What has been discovered almost definitively, according to a close course, was that two handlers, one clutching a machine gun, went into the remote stable where the horse was being held and opened fire. Shergar was stolen from Ballymany Stud in Co Kildare on the night of February 9th, 1983. 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. And she further uncovered a piece of evidence hitherto unknown to the public - that the kidnap gang dropped a magazine from a sub-machine-gun when fleeing from the stud farm. Should I Get A Pre-Purchase Exam On A Horse? 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. I hope one day we can get to the bottom of what happend. It changed my life, How King Charles III survived threats posed by nationalism on both sides of the Irish Sea, It tastes foul. ", In that, she was often assisted by Liam's widow, Kathryn Johnston. Those hairs would be invaluable DNA evidence if any remains of the animal are ever found. An astonishing lack of security made it equally simple for a four-man gang to steal him from the Aga Khan's stud farm in Ireland. What is known, however, is that the horse was a star on the track and at the center of one of the biggest crime mysteries in Ireland during the 1980s. 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.
Zinc Metal Reacts With Hydrochloric Acid Balanced Equation,
Tangled Sundrop And Moonstone,
Articles R
remains found shergar