Mrs Carrie Forbes

MRS Carrie Forbes, who has died aged 79, was a former Downpatrick woman who narrowly escaped injury during an IRA murder attempt on her policeman husband 44 years ago.

Mrs Forbes was with her husband, Ian, a detective constable in the RUC, and their two young daughters, Jean and Wendy, when terrorists opened up with automatic weapons at their Ardmore Avenue home in the Knocknashinna area just before midnight on January 31, 1973.

Mr Forbes was shot twice and nine year-old Wendy was hit two by bullets as she lay in her bed sleeping. Two bullets passed through Mrs Forbes’ night clothes, but miraculously she was not injured.

Neighbours rushed to give assistance, including a nurse who accompanied Mr Forbes and his daughter to the Downe Hospital.

Following the attack the Forbes family left Downpatrick and moved to the Bangor area, despite appeals from neighbours and their many friends, who pleaded with them to stay. Years later Mrs Forbes said she had never forgotten their support and comfort.

Mrs Forbes was born Carrie McCague in Rafeenan, Ballinode, Co Monaghan, on October 2, 1937. At the age of ten her family moved to Minterburn, near Caledon, Co Tyrone, and later to Aughnacloy.

She met her future husband at a dance and the couple were married in Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church on August 5, 1959. They moved to Downpatrick, which was to be their home for the next 14 years and was where their daughters were born.

The family immersed themselves in many aspects of community life. Mrs Forbes had trained as a nurse, but following an injury worked as a clerical officer in the Downshire Hospital. She was also a talented singer, who had turned down a recording contract in the 1960s. Following the family’s move to Bangor she worked at Forster Green Hospital in Belfast in a clerical capacity.

Mrs Forbes was an active member of the Wounded Police and Families Association and the RUC George Cross Foundation. She was delighted when her husband was awarded the MBE in 2016 for his services to the Foundation.

She was devoted to her family, which grew to include seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, and loved them all.

Mrs Forbes was admitted to the Ulster Hospital on March 23 and passed away peacefully on April 11 after a short illness.

Millisle and Ballycopeland Presbyterian Church was filled to capacity with over 200 people for the funeral service on April 14, which was conducted by the Rev John Flaherty. Among the congregation were friends and former neighbours from Downpatrick. Mrs Forbes’ eldest grandchild, Barry Lemon, read the ure reading from the Gospel of St John, Chapter 14, and the eulogy was given by the Rev Colin Anderson.

Following the service interment was at Ballyvester Cemetery, Donaghadee.