Roll of Honor
Incident
Fatally shot, together with seven other RIC officers, when their nine-man patrol was ambushed by a large terrorist unit as it proceeded along Bog Road in Rathmore, County Kerry, to retrieve the body of a soldier lying on the road about half a mile from their station. Three other Constables died from their wounds this same day, while three died during the attack the previous day, and their sergeant died on 8th May. One Constable survived the attack.
In Our Keeping
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BO-GB-RIC-681AD63B- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Phelan served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Phelan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable James Phelan is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 79 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. James Phelan's cause is highlighted.
How James Phelan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Phelan is highlighted in May.
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.
