Northern Ireland

Jim Donegan murder: Police release images of potential witness

Jim Donegan was shot dead in December 2018 as he sat in his car in west Belfast
Jim Donegan was shot dead in December 2018 as he sat in his car in west Belfast

Police investigating the murder of Jim Donegan in west Belfast 16 months ago have released images of a man who may have witnessed the killing.

Mr Donegan (43), was sitting in his red Porsche Panamera outside St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School on the Glen Road, waiting for his teenage son, on December 4 2018 when he was shot dead by a lone gunman who used a semi-automatic pistol.

No one has been charged with his murder.

READ MORE: Dissident republicans were paid to carry out gangland-style murder of Jim DoneganOpens in new window ]

Police have appealed to the man captured in the newly-released images to come foward.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said Mr Donegan had been murdered "in cold blood".

"The chilling and callous execution was carried out by a lone gunman in front of hundreds of innocent school children and their parents," he said.

"In the 16 months since this brutal killing we have made 15 arrests, however, no one has been charged.

 A man who police believe may have seen Jim Donegan's murder. Picture from PSNI
 A man who police believe may have seen Jim Donegan's murder. Picture from PSNI

"I am hoping the male, who we have released images of today, will contact us as we believe he may be a potential witness, and he may hold vital information about what happened."

The senior officer said any information the man has "may make all the difference".

"I would also appeal to anyone who believes they know the male pictured in these images to contact us," he said.

"I have said before I am confident the answer to finding those involved in Jim’s murder lies within the community.

Police said this man may have seen Jim Donegan's murder. Picture from PSNI
Police said this man may have seen Jim Donegan's murder. Picture from PSNI

"Today, I am appealing again to anyone who has information which could be significant to please, pick up the phone and tell us what you know.

"Jim was a husband, a brother, a father to two sons and a stepfather. His loved ones deserve to have answers and the community deserves to have this dangerous man who killed him sent to prison for this callous murder."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.

The scene after Jim Donegan was shot on the Glen Road in west Belfast before Christmas 2018
The scene after Jim Donegan was shot on the Glen Road in west Belfast before Christmas 2018