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© Copyright, Independent Commission for Reconciliation & Information Recovery 2026.

ICRIR launches witness appeal for Sefton family

Published:

The ICRIR (the Commission) is investigating the deaths of Ellen and James Sefton who were killed when a booby trap device exploded under their car in June 1990.

James was a 65-year-old retired police officer. His wife Ellen was 66. They had two children, a son and a daughter.

The Sefton family has approached the Commission in the hope that someone may come forward with information about what happened to Ellen and James.

Assistant Commissioner Amanda Logan is leading the Commission’s Investigations team.

“It’s over 35 years since James and Ellen were killed. Their family is seeking the truth about what happened and we believe there is someone out there who may hold the vital piece of information that could make a difference to the investigation.

“Even the smallest detail could help us understand what happened and why.”

Ellen and James left their home on Lyndhurst Gardens on Wednesday 6 June and drove towards Belfast city centre.

At approximately 10am, as they passed the Old Forth River Primary School on Ballygomartin Road, a bomb exploded beneath their car.

James, who was driving, was fatally injured and died in the Mater hospital. Ellen was critically injured and transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital. She died the following day.

Assistant Commissioner Logan said the suffering of the Sefton family was representative of the pain of so many victims, survivors and families.

“People are still suffering, deprived of information and with no accountability. Our job at the Commission is to try to deliver answers for people who have been searching for them for decades,” she explained.

The witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the areas relating to the investigation.

Notes to editors: 

  • The Commission also has an “appeals for information” page on its website where more information is available.
  • The family will not be doing any interviews. Today would have been James Sefton’s birthday.