An investigation into the murder of a part-time reserve police officer and lorry driver killed 44 years ago in Co Tyrone has issued an appeal for information.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery is investigating the death of John Eagleson, who was shot and killed on Friday October 1 1982.
Nobody has ever been convicted over the murder, carried out by the IRA.
The investigation is being led by Assistant Commissioner, Amanda Logan.
“John was 49 years old and a married father-of-three when he was killed,” she said.
“He has been missed dearly by his family who have come to the Commission seeking answers about what happened that awful morning.”
John Eagleson
John worked as a lorry driver at the Blue Circle Cement Works, Cookstown and served as a part-time Reserve Constable with the RUC, attached to Cookstown RUC Station.
Shortly after 6am on October 1 1982, John left his home on Orritor Road, to travel to the Blue Circle Cement Works on Sandholes Road, Cookstown.
He was riding his white Honda 90 motorcycle, registration mark BJI 5674.
John’s route to work was rural in nature, surrounded primarily by open farmland interspersed with isolated dwellings.
While travelling along the Upper Kildress Road, near its junction with Drum Road, John was shot and fatally wounded.
An individual in the locality reported hearing gunshots at around 6.30am. There were, however, no known eyewitnesses to the shooting.
Shortly before 7am several men travelling by car along the Upper Kildress Road observed a motorcycle lying on the grass verge near the junction with Drum Road.
Life changed dramatically for the whole family after that. Daddy was the foundation of our lives
Clive Eagleson
When the men exited their vehicle to investigate, they discovered John lying face down in the grass adjacent to the roadway.
Believing that he had been involved in a road traffic collision they sought assistance at a nearby house, where the householder subsequently contacted the police and ambulance service.
A doctor attended the scene at 7.45am and pronounced Mr Eagleson deceased.
Ms Logan said: “Our previous witness appeals have proven helpful in uncovering new information which has assisted us in our investigations.
“Many years have passed since John Eagleson’s killing and there may be individuals who have lived all this time with knowledge of what happened. I appeal to anyone with information that could assist our investigation to come forward.
“What you know, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could prove vital in uncovering the truth for John’s family.”
In 2022, his son Clive Eagleson said he lives with the pain of his father’s death every day.
Gwen Owen, Emma Eagleson, Clive Eagleson and Jeanelle Curran, relatives of John Eagleson, lay flowers at the roadside at Kildress, near Cookstown © SEFF/PA
He said: “Dad was a gentleman, a hardworking man, a good man.
“He was out working every day, providing for his family, a great father and husband.
“He was always willing to help neighbours in the farming community.
“I was 13 when dad was murdered. The morning it happened. I woke up and heard a bit of commotion in the house, I knew something was wrong.
“My mum came down and a policewoman came in and I was told.
“Life changed dramatically for the whole family after that. Daddy was the foundation of our lives.”
Anyone with information can contact the ICRIR by phone on 028 9036 2093 or email: witnessappeals@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk
The Commission also has an appeals for information page on its website where more information is available.