Do you know who this may be? Renewed appeal to track witnesses to Belfast killing

Detectives have made a renewed appeal for information and re-released images of a potential witness on the second anniversary of the murder of James Donegan, known as Jim, outside his son’s school in republican-dominated west Belfast.
By Adam Kula
Published 4th Dec 2020, 00:01 BST
The image released by police todayThe image released by police today
The image released by police today

On Tuesday December 4, 2018, the 43-year-old was murdered as he sat waiting to pick up his 13-year-old son in his red Porsche Panamera, registration JDZ34, on the Glen Road.

Police described the shooting as a “chilling and brutal execution carried out by a lone gunman in front of hundreds of innocent schoolchildren and their parents”.

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Extremely muscular and heavily-tattooed, Donegan was reportedly a high-level drug dealer specialising in cocaine.

There has been speculation that republicans could be behind the killing.

Last year Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray said Donegan was “known to police” and “would have had a number of enemies”.

Today Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said in a statement: “I have always stated it is my belief that the information required to finding those involved in Jim’s murder lies within the community and I am appealing to people living in the area to cast their minds back to that day.

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“You may think something you saw was insignificant but it may be the final piece of the jigsaw needed.

“We also released images of a man we believe may be a potential witness in April of this year and I am today calling again on this individual or indeed anyone who thinks they may know them to get in touch as they could potentially help bring this killer to justice.

“In the two years since this brutal killing we have made a number of arrests, however, no one has been charged.

“Jim was a husband, a brother, a father to two sons and a stepfather.

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“Ask yourself how you would feel if this was your loved one who was taken away in such a cold and callus fashion?

“This family deserve answers and the community deserves to have someone who would do such a thing taken off the streets.

“If you have information, call us 101. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.

“You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport”

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