Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable McCracken and Constable Kenneth William Sheehan were on mobile on the Moneymore Road at Gortagilly, County Londonderry, accompanied by two other Constables, when they decided to check a suspicious car.
As Constables McCracken and Sheehan approached the vehicle, the occupants opened fire with high velocity weapons at close range, killing both men.
A third Constable, although wounded, returned fire and the terrorists panicked and drove off but got bogged down in a ditch. They then run off into the fields. The Constable who returned fire was later awarded the George Medal.
In Our Keeping
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BO-GB-RUC-3A9FC8B8- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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 McCracken served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable McCracken.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John Thomas McCracken 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. John Thomas McCracken's cause is highlighted.
How John Thomas McCracken Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Thomas McCracken 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.
