Michael William Dawson
Constable

Michael William Dawson

Felonious
End of Watch April 12, 1984
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Dawson was called to 139 University Street, Belfast, regarding a suspect hold-all found in the front garden.

As Michael was speaking to the householder, a bomb within the hold-all exploded, killing the female and seriously injuring the officer.

Constable Dawson, a married man, was taken to Belfast City Hospital but died from his wounds soon after.

The previous year, while carrying a bomb to the same house, a man was injured when the bomb detonated prematurely.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Dawson served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Dawson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location NIR
Platform Identity ruc.bfs.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1984
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Bomb

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael is one of 1,170 officers killed feloniously in United Kingdom, 30.9% of the 3,791 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1984, 13 officers in United Kingdom were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 216 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 167.

Every year on record · United Kingdom
II

Who

Michael was 23. Of the 1,048 killed feloniously in United Kingdom whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 44; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 9.8% of these deaths in United Kingdom; May holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 30.9% of all 3,791 deaths in United Kingdom, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Royal Ulster Constabulary GC has at least 120 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years

Constable Michael William Dawson

Royal Ulster Constabulary GC · End of Watch April 12, 1984

Where the Name Is Cut

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