Police appeal for information on 40th anniversary of Cookstown man's murder

Mr Eagleson was shot and killed as he travelled to work on the Upper Kildress Road, near Drum Manor Forest Park.

He was a 49 year old married man who lived in Cookstown. He had two daughters and a son, Clive, who was only 13 years old when his father was murdered.

Detective Inspector Nicola Galway from Legacy Investigation Branch said: “Shortly after 6am on Friday 1 October 1982 John was riding his Honda motorcycle along the Upper Kildress Road when he was shot in the chest. He sadly died from his wounds at the scene.

"I believe the gunman made their escape in a yellow coloured Datsun 100A car, VRM BJI 6435 that had been hijacked in the Cookstown area the previous evening. The car was found a few hours later abandoned off the main Omagh to Cookstown Road approximately four miles from the murder scene.

“There were no witnesses to the murder and John was discovered lying beside his motorcycle around 6.30am by members of the public travelling along the same stretch of road.

“This was a brutal attack on a family man who was on his way to work in a local cement plant. Shot and left to die on a country road for no other reason than he was a Part-Time Police Officer who gave up his time to serve the local community in Cookstown.

“Forty years have now passed since John’s murder and I am appealing for anyone who has any knowledge of what happened that day, whether as a witness or from personal involvement, who have not spoken to police previously to do so now.

"I am appealing to anyone who may have been travelling on the Upper Kildress Road either before or after the murder and who may have witnessed the yellow Datsun car in the area.

“Anyone with information can contact detectives in Legacy Investigation Branch on 101 or [email protected]."

Kenny Donaldson, South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) Director of Service said: “It is our immense privilege to be supporting the Eagleson family as they reach another milestone since the brutal murder of their beloved father John some 40 years ago”.

“The Eagleson family are a family who experienced a cruel injustice; that injustice has been magnified in the years that have followed through a lack of justice being delivered, the first injustice cannot be undone but the latter injustice could and should be redressed”.

Meanwhile SEFF’s Mid-Ulster Advocate Ian Irwin added: “Over the years loyalties may have changed within the local area and we appeal for those with knowledge concerning the circumstances of John’s murder to come forward at this point to our organisation directly by calling us on: 028 677 23884, selecting option 1, by calling the PSNI or by passing the information to a member of the Clergy or other community leader”.

“We especially draw attention to a yellow Datsun which was within the immediate area in the lead up to the murder and which is suspected to have been involved in ramming John’s motorcycle”.