Opinion

Analysis: Murder bore all the hallmarks of a professional assassin

Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast as he waited to pick his son up from school.
Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast as he waited to pick his son up from school. Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast as he waited to pick his son up from school.

The murder of Jim 'JD' Donegan in front of terrified school children in west Belfast bore all the hallmarks of a gangland style execution.

Formerly from west Belfast, Mr Donegan would have been well known, with his love of flash cars and designer clothes. His bright red Porsche with personalised plates would have stood out on the school run, making him easily identified by his killer.

The method of the murder, in daylight, in a busy place, in front of numerous eye witnesses is unusual in itself.

The killer walked up to the victim's car wearing a hi-vis vest with 'security' on the back and shot Mr Donegan at least six times before walking calmly away.

His killing was planned, deliberate and carried out by a gunman who had no fear of being recognised locally by the hundreds of pupils and parents on their way home from the two nearby schools.

It all points to a hired hitman, not from Northern Ireland; the kind of shootings more commonly linked to the ongoing Dublin gangland feud, which has so far claimed at least 16 lives.

Read more:Murder of Jim Donegan outside west Belfast school could be linked to Dublin feud

The scene of a shooting on the Glen Road where Jim Donegan was shot dead. Picture Mal McCann.
The scene of a shooting on the Glen Road where Jim Donegan was shot dead. Picture Mal McCann. The scene of a shooting on the Glen Road where Jim Donegan was shot dead. Picture Mal McCann.

The small number of local dissident republican groups still in operation in Northern Ireland are by contrast are disorganised, any attacks they have carried out have been amateurish and chaotic, usually involving shotguns.

Nothing like the professional assassination that took place on the Glen Road in west Belfast yesterday.

Mr Donegan was involved in the haulage industry, with friends and business associates on both sides of the border.

Detectives will no doubt be looking at any potential links to the crime families in the Republic in the hunt for his killer.

Mr Donegan's family will have been left devastated by the attack, a husband, son and father lost as part of an ongoing criminal feud that shows no sign of being resolved any time soon.

Read more: Police release CCTV footage of gunman

Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast.
Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast. Jim (JD) Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast.