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New PSNI appeal on 30th anniversary of officer John Haggan's murder

RUC Constable John Haggan was killed as he socialised with his wife and friends at a greyhound stadium in Belfast on 10 March 1994
RUC Constable John Haggan was killed as he socialised with his wife and friends at a greyhound stadium in Belfast on 10 March 1994

The PSNI has launched an appeal for information about the fatal shooting of a policeman on the 30th anniversary of his murder.

Father of three, RUC Constable John Haggan, was killed as he socialised with his wife and friends at a greyhound stadium in Belfast on 10 March 1994.

Mr Haggan, known as Jackie, was with his pregnant wife in the members' bar of the Dunmore Stadium at 9.15pm.

Two gunmen approached him from behind, one of them shot him in the head.

He was shot again as he lay on the ground, the other gunman firing into the ceiling to cover their retreat.

The killers were driven away by a third person in a hijacked gold Seat Ibiza NXI 7341 which had been taken from a house at Stratford Gardens, Ardoyne just over an hour before the shooting.

It was found later than evening a short distance away at Chichester Court off the Antrim Road.

"This was a sickening attack on a family man who was out socialising with his wife and friends. 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," said Detective Chief Inspector Byrne from the PSNI's Legacy Investigation Branch.

The PSNI is asking anyone who witnessed the gunmen arriving at or leaving the stadium, or saw them in and around the car to come forward.