James O’Donnell QPM MM

Died

13 December 1958

Age

Rank

Detective Inspector

Force

Blackburn Borough Police

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital the day after he was shot in the chest having been called to an address in Blackburn.

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital the day after he was shot in the chest having been called to an address in Blackburn.

Circumstances

On December 12, 1958 DI O'Donnell was called to attend an address in Blackburn due to a 27 year old male armed with a shotgun. The male was reported to have taken seven people hostage, including his estranged wife. James arrived and despite the male having already killed a woman and shot an unarmed police officer he attempted to talk the male down. James was shot in the chest, he died from the injuries he sustained in hospital the following day. Posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry.

There he attempted to talk down a 27-year-old man, armed with a shotgun, who had already killed a woman, shot an unarmed police officer and taken several people hostage, including his estranged wife.

DI O’Donnell was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry.