Alwyn William Harris

At the time of his death he was the subdivisional commander of Newcastle, County Down, and had 33 years’ police service on the actual day of his murder. His funeral was attended by thousands of people and brought the town of Lisburn, County Antrim, to a standstill. His wife survived the bombing with minor injuries.

While serving in Kilkeel, County Down, Superintendent Harris had been responsible for the removal from duty of six Royal Marines who had been accused of harassing a Catholic mother of three. The Priest who had passed on the complaints, had been very impressed by Harris, saying that “he was exactly the kind of officer on whom a trustworthy police force could be built”.