John Reginald Charles Bennison
- Died:
- 23 March 1987
- Age:
- 41
- Rank:
- Detective Sergeant
- Force:
- Royal Ulster Constabulary GC
- Cause:
- Homicide - Bomb
- Duty Status:
- On Duty
Roll of Honour Citation
Killed alongside a colleague by the detonation of a bomb at the scene of a shooting they were investigating.
Police Memorial Tribute
Following an evening psychology class at Magee College in Londonderry one of the students, a 62 year-old man who worked for the Northern Ireland Prison Service, was sitting in his car outside the college.
Three terrorist gunmen approached and shot him multiple times through the windscreen. Receiving reports of gunfire the RUC attended and sealed off the area.
Detective Sergeant Bennison was with Detective Inspector Austin Wilson at the scene. As part of their inquiries they were examining a briefcase left in the car of the murdered man.
Unbeknownst to the Detectives the briefcase had been left by the terrorists with a bomb inside, which detonated and killed and both officers.
It was later established the murdered man was targeted to draw RUC officers to the scene so they could be attacked by the planting of a bomb in the briefcase.
John was stationed at Waterside Police Station and had been in the RUC for six years having transferred from Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Prior to joining the RUC he had served in the Grenadier Guards.
He was survived by his wife and fifteen-year-old daughter.
Incident Location
