Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Kenneth John Acheson joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in November 1979, he was stationed at Bessbrook, which was a roughly 20 miles from his home in Armagh where he lived with his wife and their eleven month old baby son.
On Thursday 2nd April 1981 Constable Acheson finished duty and was driving home in his Ford Fiesta shortly after 11pm. Whilst travelling along the Derrywilligan Road, to reach the main Newry to Armagh road, he was killed by a bomb exploding. Initially Detectives believed it may have been a landmine planted on the road but they later concluded it had been a booby trap device planted under the car, possibly on the driver’s side.
Constable Acheson was buried with full Police honours in St Mark’s Parish Churchyard, during his funeral he was described as a “young man, who, in caring for the well-being of the community, joined the RUC to help protect his fellow man.”
Scene of explosion which killed RUC Constable Kenneth Acheson.
In Our Keeping
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- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Acheson served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Acheson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Kenneth John Acheson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 16.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Kenneth John Acheson's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth John Acheson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth John Acheson 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.
