Incident
District Commissioner Holmes died in the Military Hospital, Cork, from the six gunshot wounds he sustained the previous day, when he and his escort of six men were ambushed by terrorists at Tureengarriffe, on the Castleisland road, two miles west of Ballydesmond, County Cork.
Constable Thomas Moyles was shot and killed in the same incident.
In Our Keeping
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BO-GB-RIC-309F315C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Divisional Commissioner Holmes served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Divisional Commissioner Holmes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Divisional Commissioner Philip Armstrong Holmes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In L, 592 of 749 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Royal Irish Constabulary, 519 of 642 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Philip Armstrong Holmes's cause is highlighted.
How Philip Armstrong Holmes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Philip Armstrong Holmes is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
641 officers from Royal Irish Constabulary are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.

