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 Sergeant Bennison was withDetective Inspector Austin Wilsonat 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.
It was later established the murdered man was targeted to draw RUC officers to the scene so they could be attacked by the planting of a bomb in the briefcase.
John was stationed at Waterside Police Station and had been in the RUC for six years having transferred from Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Prior to joining the RUC he had served in the Grenadier Guards.
He was survived by his wife and fifteen-year-old daughter.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and fifteen-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-RUC-BA19100E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Sergeant Bennison served with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Bennison.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant John Reginald Charles Bennison 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 Reginald Charles Bennison's cause is highlighted.
How John Reginald Charles Bennison Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Reginald Charles Bennison 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.
