PSNI Officer Shot in Dissident Ambush in Northern Belfast Says He Thought He was Going to Die

A Belfast PSNI officer who was shot in dissident ambush on January 22, but survived the murder bid, has revealed that at that time he thought that he was going to die.

The officer has spoken for the first time since the incident that happened at a petrol station forecourt on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. He said what he was thinking about when he saw blood pouring from his body after being shot.

The Belfast police has appealed the public to share any information related to attack, in which AK-47 assault rifle was used to shot the office two or three times in the arm. Officers think as many as 10 shots were fired from the automatic weapon. The officer was admitted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery. He is now recovering from his injuries.

A dissident republican group—New IRA—claimed responsibility of the attack, saying they were attempting to kill two officers.

The BBC showed an episode on the incident in its Crimewatch program on March 6.

“I felt something hit me… everything sort of slowed down. Blood was pouring out,” the PNSI office told the program while recalling the attack.

“I thought that was me. I thought I was going to die on that forecourt.”

The officer said he joined police service to make a difference.

“Joining the police – it sounds cliched, but it was just the thought of helping people,” he added.

“You build a rapport and they do end up knowing you by name. I’m not just a uniform.”

Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes appealed the people to come forward to share information on the shooting.

“I welcome the opportunity to make a fresh appeal for information on Crimewatch tonight, more than one month after the attack, when I will also reveal new pieces of information in relation to the investigation,” he said.

“The program will also feature my colleague speaking about his ordeal publicly for the first time.”

“He will bravely describe the moments leading up to the attack, his thoughts and feelings on realizing he had been shot and injured, and also describe his road to recovery.”

Chief Constable George Hamilton described the shooting as “completely reckless” and “crazy”.