Call For No Retaliation As Murder Victim Laid To Rest

The family of a father murdered in broad daylight last week outside a west Belfast school has called for "no retaliation, only justice" at his funeral.

43-year-old Jim Donegan was shot dead while waiting to collect his child on the Glen Road on Tuesday 04 December.

A lone gunman fired the eight fatal shots and was caught on CCTV walking in the area amongst unsuspecting pupils, just moments before the brutal slaying.

Mr Donegan's son missed his father's assassination by only a few seconds.

Speaking at the requiem mass at St John the Evangelist Church on the Falls Road on Thursday 13 December, Father Martin Magill said the family have been left heartbroken.

"Jim's family was plunged into the depths of grief by his murder last Tuesday afternoon, yet in the depths of their pain, they are very clear," he said.

"They want no one else to suffer as they have suffered and are suffering."

Police are continuing to investigate the murder and released more CCTV footage of the gunman travelling in the area before and after he struck.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery, who is leading the murder investigation, described the images as "extremely chilling".

He said: "To do this in broad daylight, in the presence of children, is just barbaric. No child should have to witness what happened here last week. Mums, dads, grandparents, young siblings and people in the community also saw the brutal slaying.

"The callous actions of the gunman will have catastrophic psychological effects on them all. Children who should be dreaming of presents and the magic of Christmas are now, instead, having nightmares."

DCI Montgomery added that he believed the gunman, who he described as a "cold, callous and calm individual", had killed before.

He also revealed that the killer held his hand up to stop traffic in order to cross the Glen Road and make his escape.

He was wearing a high visibility, hip-length yellow jacket, with 'Security' written on the back, dark bottoms, a grey hat or hood and carrying a black or dark bag over his shoulder. A dissident republican element is the main line of investigation.

DCI Montgomery appealed to anyone who was on the Glen Road around the time of Mr Donegan's murder to contact police, whether they have any relevant information or not, in order to be eliminated from the investigation.



(JG)