Victor William Arbuckle

At 11.20pm on Saturday 11th October 1969, Constable Arbuckle was accompanied by a number of colleagues at a cordon near the end of the Shankill Road near Unity Flats.

Serious rioting was in progress and sporadic gunfire was taking place. The disorder was due to the release of the Hunt Report recommending The disbandment of the USC and the disarming of the RUC.

During this disorder Victor was struck by a single shot to the head resulting in his death. Three men were charged with his murder but were found not guilty but they did receive sentences for firearms possession.

Victor was married with two children, a son and daughter. He was the first RUC Officer to be murdered at the start of what became known as ‘The Troubles’

His funeral took place at Bloomfield Gospel Hall in East Belfast and he was interred in Roselawn cemetery.