Two men arrested over west Belfast murder

The gunman, wearing a high-vis vest, caught on CCTV in west Belfast. Credit: PSNI

Two men, aged 49 and 51, have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a man outside a west Belfast school.

The arrests follow a number of searches in west Belfast on Wednesday evening.

Jim Donegan, 43, was sitting in his Porsche when he was shot dead on the Glen Road on Tuesday afternoon, near both St Mary’s Grammar School and the Christian Brothers secondary school.

The brutal attack was carried out in front of dozens of pupils and their parents.

Many have been left trying to cope with the trauma of what they witnessed and counselling is being offered to all those affected.

St Mary’s principal Fiona Crookes was one of the first members of staff on the scene.

She told UTV that she and other teachers had to hold their coats over the car to try to protect children from the bloodshed, creating a “human shield”.

Meanwhile, police are still hunting the gunman who was wearing a high-visibility vest with the word ‘security’ on the back and was carrying a black or dark-coloured bag.

“I believe the gun was in this bag,” PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said.

“He emerged from a lane in Clonelly Avenue onto the Glen Road around 3.10pm and walked past countless parents and children, before firing eight bullets at Jim while he sat outside the school.

“Around two minutes later, after the murder, he ran back up Glen Road and along the lane into Clonelly Avenue. I would like to hear from anyone who saw the gunman during these times.”

DCI Pete Montgomery makes an appeal to the public over the fatal gun attack. Credit: Presseye

DCI Pete Montgomery added: “Mums, dads, grandparents, young siblings, and people in the community saw the brutal slaying.

“The callous actions of the gunman will have catastrophic psychological effects on them all.

“Children who moments before were no doubt enjoying Christmas activities in class, maybe practising for their Christmas concert or school nativity, will no longer be dreaming about Santa or presents.

“Instead they will be having nightmares about a murder in broad daylight outside their school - a place which should be a safe haven to learn and grow.”