Jim Donegan shot eight times as he sat in his flame red Porsche Panamera car

DETECTIVES investigating the brutal murder of drug baron Jim ‘JD’ Donegan in front of schoolchildren and parents earlier this month are appealing to motorists who were in the area on the day of the killing to come forward.

The 43-year-old married businessman was blasted to death eight times to the head and body as he sat in his flame red £80,000 Porsche Panamera car in west Belfast on Tuesday, December 4.

Detectives described the father-of-three’s murder as a “brutal assassination” by a lone unmasked hitman dressed a Hi Vis jacket.

Police probing his murder believe a former member of the Provisional IRA with a pedigree for “close quarter killing” carried out the murder.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who was driving along the Glen Road around the time the lone gunman shot Donegan in broad daylight as he sat in his red Porsche Panamera, registration JDZ 34, waiting to pick up his 13 year old son.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said:  “I would like to hear from anyone who was driving in the area of the Glen Road and Clonelly Avenue around 3.10 pm and just afterwards as I need to eliminate your car from my enquiries.

“I also need to see any dash-cam footage which could be of use to my investigation.  “Please come forward to police by calling 101 without delay as your dash-cam footage could hold vital clues.”

At his funeral last week, a priest said Donegan’s family had asked for no retaliation.