Man shot outside Belfast school was waiting for son

Jim Donegan. Image: Belfast Telegraph

Several pupils have been left traumatised by the incident.

Police in Northern Ireland are searching for a lone gunman who killed a father aged in his 40s, as he waited for his son outside of a Belfast school.

The shooting was witnessed by several pupils, including a seven-year-old boy who has reportedly been left traumatised by the incident.

The victim, named as Jim Donegan, had been waiting in his red sports car outside the gates of St Mary's Grammar School on the Glen Road when a lone gunman approached his vehicle and opened fire shortly after 3pm.

A gunman wearing a high-visibility vest with the word security emblazoned on the back left the scene on foot, detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

Mr Donegan's young son, believed to be around 13-years-old reportedly stumbled upon the horrific scene.

Witnesses described seeing him run back into the school immediately after hearing multiple gunshots ring out.

"He'd only just left and then there were about six bangs," one eyewitness told the Belfast Telegraph.

"The next thing he ran back up the lane screaming - he was terrified.

"If he didn't see the shooting he definitely saw the aftermath."

''Completely shattered.''

One woman who passed the scene within moments of the shooting described the frantic efforts of teachers to shield children from the horrific sight by placing coats over the windscreen of the Porsche.

"But the kids would have seen everything through the driver's window which was completely shattered," she told the Telegraph.

"There are two bus stops right beside where it happened and large numbers of children were gathered there at the time."

It is understood that at least six buses pick children up at the location of the shooting.

It's also a drop-off point for children coming from schools further away.

"Disgraceful and horrific attack."

Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey condemned the "disgraceful and horrific attack" which was carried out "in full view of hundreds of kids" who were leaving school and offered his condolences to the victim's family.

Speaking at the scene last night, the west Belfast politician said parents of "very young" children who saw the shooting have been left disgusted.

"It is very, very wrong and an indictment of our society," he said.

"We thought these days were long gone and whoever did this should be absolutely ashamed of themselves."