Two arrested over shooting of father waiting for son outside Belfast school

Jim Donegan was in his car waiting to collect his son at the time of the attack.

Two men have been arrested following the death of a father who was shot while waiting for his son outside a Belfast school.

Jim Donegan, 43, was targeted in front of children leaving school on the Glen Road in west Belfast on Tuesday.

The married father-of-two was shot in the head as he sat in his Porsche car waiting to collect his teenage son.

He died instantly. Teachers were forced to shield the car crime scene from view of the young pupils.

Police released footage of a gunman, captured on CCTV moments before Donegan was shot and killed.

The video sees a man in a hi-vis vest walking nearby the school.

Officers believe the man concealed a gun in the bag that was slung over his shoulder.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said two men, aged 49 and 51, were detained on Wednesday evening following a number of searches in the west Belfast area.

They remain in custody.

Mr Donegan’s 13-year-old son is a pupil at St Mary’s Grammar School, near where the attack happened.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said ricocheting bullets could have easily resulted in children being killed.

He added: “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.

“The gunman walked past these children and fired a weapon eight times.

“It is utter madness as any one of these bullets could have ricocheted, and having been at the scene I cannot emphasise enough that it is sheer luck I am not investigating multiple fatalities.”

More than 1,000 pupils were exiting the school at the time of the attack.

The school is expected to reopen for classes on Thursday.