Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Martin was killed at 2:50pm when a terrorist bomb exploded in a lorry that had been abandoned and was obstructing the thoroughfare near the junction of Glen Road and Shaw’s Road in Andersontown, Belfast.
The officer and his colleagues diverted traffic from the area before inspecting and moving the lorry. An inspector had checked the driver’s cabin but didn’t find anything.
Gary then volunteered to drive away the lorry and as he was getting into the cabin he put his hand on the seat and the lorry exploded. A mercury-tilt switch had been placed under the seat to detonate the bomb.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-RUC-766F0980- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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 Martin served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Martin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Gary Desmond Martin is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NIR, 422 of 599 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.5% of this state's fallen. That is 70.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, 351 of 469 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary Desmond Martin's cause is highlighted.
How Gary Desmond Martin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Desmond Martin is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
468 officers from Royal Ulster Constabulary GC are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
