John Haggan: Fresh appeal 30 years on from constable's murder
- Published
The 33-year-old from Newtownabbey was a father-of-two and his wife was pregnant when he was shot
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued a fresh appeal over the murder of police officer John Haggan 30 years ago.
Constable Haggan, 33, who was known as Jackie, was shot while out with his wife and friends at Dunmore Greyhound Stadium on Alexandra Park Avenue in Belfast on 10 March 1994.
The Newtownabbey officer was a father-of-two and his wife was pregnant.
The PSNI said it was a "sickening" attack.
Police said he was approached from behind by two gunmen while in the members bar and shot in the head from close range.
Constable Haggan was shot again as he lay on the floor and the second gunman warned other customers not to move before firing into the ceiling to cover their getaway, police said.
The PSNI believes that the gunmen made their escape in a gold coloured Seat Ibiza car, VRM NXI 7341 that was driven by a third accomplice.
They made off towards Alexandra Park Avenue before turning left onto Jellicoe Avenue.
That car had been hijacked shortly before 20:00 GMT from Stratford Gardens in the Ardoyne area and was found in Chichester Court by a local police patrol just before 23.30.
'Sickening attack on a family man'
"This was a sickening attack on a family man who was out socialising with his wife and friends," Det Ch Insp Byrne from Legacy Investigation Branch said.
"Murdered in cold blood for no other reason than being a police officer providing a service to the local community and local people of east Belfast where he had been stationed for 12 years.
"This is in stark contrast to the terrorists responsible for his brutal murder."
Constable Haggan was stationed in east Belfast for 12 years before his murder
Det Ch Insp Byrne said that police were appealing for anyone who had any knowledge of what happened the night of the murder and who had not spoken to police previously to do so now.
"I am appealing to anyone who was in the stadium that evening either before or after the murder. Did you see the gunmen before or after the attack?" he said.
"Do you know who these individuals were? Did you see them make their escape after the attack? Did you see the gold coloured Seat Ibiza car in the vicinity of the stadium or being abandoned in Chichester Court?"
Anyone with information is asked to get in touch with the PSNI.