Roll of Honor
Incident
Following an evening psychology class at Magee College in Londonderry one of the students, a 62 year-old man who worked for the Northern Ireland Prison Service, was sitting in his car outside the college.
Three terrorist gunmen approached and shot him multiple times through the windscreen. Receiving reports of gunfire the RUC attended and sealed off the area.
Detective Inspector Wilson was withDetective Sergeant Bennisonat the scene. As part of their inquiries they were examining a briefcase left in the car of the murdered man.
Unbeknownst to the Detectives the briefcase had been left by the terrorists with a bomb inside, which detonated and killed and both officers.
It was later established that the murdered man was targeted to draw RUC officers to the scene so they could be attacked planting a bomb in the briefcase.
Austin was stationed at Strand Road Police Station and had served in the RUC for seventeen years.
He was married with two young sons.
In Our Keeping
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BO-GB-RUC-8F520168- 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.
Detective Inspector Wilson served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Inspector Wilson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Inspector Austin Wilson 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. Austin Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Austin Wilson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Austin Wilson is highlighted in Mar.
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.
