PSNI DETECTIVES from the Legacy Investigation Branch are appealing for information on the 25th anniversary of the murders of Constable John Graham and Reserve Constable David Johnston in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
The two officers were conducting a beat patrol in Church Walk in the town on 16 June 2022 when two gunmen ran up behind them and shot them at close range. Despite the efforts of doctors who rushed from a nearby surgery both officers died at the scene.
Both officers were in their thirties and were married with young families. John, 34 years, was from Richhill and had three daughters aged 10, 7 and 2 and David, 30 years, was from Lisburn and had 2 sons aged 7 and 3.
Speaking about her father’s murder, John’s daughter Abbie said:
“I can’t begin to describe the devastation of losing a parent at such a young age, I can’t tell you how hard it is to watch your own mothers’ heart break before you. What I can tell you, is that one of the only hopes we have to this day is that whoever committed this crime could be brought to justice.
"All I can do, is ask, or even beg, that anyone with any information, no matter how small, or seemingly insignificant to please come forward and help us. We needed our daddy then and we still need him today, but right now we also need you, so please, please help us to get justice for our dads.”
David’s son Louie said:
“Five seconds was all it took to change the course of our family’s history and take our dad away, leaving 25 years of unimaginable pain, loss and longing for our wonderful daddy.
"His heart was so big there was room for everyone inside of it, his laughter infectious, his smile warm. Sadly, this was left vacant from his children growing up, and now the same heartache repeats for his grandchildren as well. We ask anyone with information to please come forward and help us once again change the course of our family’s history as we seek justice.”
The gunmen, who may have been disguised by wearing wigs, are believed to have made their escape in a green coloured Rover 216 car, VRM YIJ 2371 that was later found burnt out in the Kilwilke Estate in the town.
“John and David were young men murdered while serving the local community of Lurgan," Detective Superintendent Stephen Wright said.
"I would ask everyone to take a moment to stop and think about that. Murdered for no other reason than that they were police officers providing a service to the local community and local people of Lurgan. This is in stark contrast to the terrorists responsible for their brutal murders."
He said circumstances and allegiances "may have changed" in the years since the murders, and appealed for people with knowledge of what happened that day, whether as a witness or from personal involvement, to come forward to police.
"It is not too late, if anyone now feels they are able to talk to us, we are ready to listen."
Anyone with information can contact detectives in Legacy Investigation Branch on 101 or [email protected].
A report can also be submitted online using non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.
