Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Larkin was driving a motor lorry which was one of two that left Carrick-on-Shannon at 8:00am, travelling via Longford towards Athlone, County Westmeath. About 9.30am the convoy was ambushed outside Athlone at Auburn, Glasson, at a point where the road passed a steep hill with a boundary wall that provided cover for the 25 attackers.
The first volley of gunfire targeted the drivers and Constable Larkin was killed instantly. A number of improvised grenades were then thrown but failed to explode and when the RIC returned fire the attackers made off. Sergeant Meany and Constable Costello were wounded in the incident and one of the terrorists was killed.
Constable Larkin was born in 1898 in London and before joining the Royal Irish Constabulary he served as a soldier of the 3rd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, and later the Devonshire Regiment.
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- 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 Larkin served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Larkin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Sydney George James Larkin 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. Sydney George James Larkin's cause is highlighted.
How Sydney George James Larkin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sydney George James Larkin is highlighted in Nov.
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.
