Incident Summary:

01/21/1998: John McColgan, a taxi-driver, was shot five times in the back of the head at point-blank range in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. McColgan's body was found dumped on a road. His killers, members of the Irish National Liberation Army, used the taxi to make their getaway, and the car was later found burned out on the outskirts of south Belfast.

GTD ID:
199801210001

When:
1998-01-21

Country:
United Kingdom

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Northern Ireland

City:
Belfast

Location Details:
Belfast (Capital City)

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilian
Specific Description John McColgan
Nationality of Target Northern Ireland
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Taxi-driver killing brings Catholic death toll to 8,” The Irish Times, January 26, 1998.
“Three shot in a night of violence in Ulster - Attacks continue as the IRA reject blueprint,” The Journal (Newcastle, UK), January 22, 1998.
“Three shot as killers return to the streets,” The Scotsman, January 22, 1998.