RUC man who lost legs in booby-trap bomb laid to rest
A FORMER RUC officer, who lost both his legs in an IRA carbomb, was described as “an incredible man of great courage, conviction and commitment” with an “unbreakable spirit” at his funeral yesterday.
Ronnie Pollock, known as Rollie, who had served as a reserve constable, passed away peacefully in hospital on Tuesday. He was aged in his late80s.
Members of the RUC George Cross Association provided a guard of honour for Mr Pollock’s coffin as it
A piper leads the coffin of Ronald Pollock (left) out of Dromore Presbyterian church. Family members at the funeral
was carried into Banbridge Road Presbyterian Church in Dromore, Co Down to the strains of a lone piper playing Highland Cathedral.
The Rev Gary Trueman, standing beside the RUC flag-draped coffin, described Mr Pollock as a man who “showed a level of resilience and fortitude seldom
witnessed”. His grand-daughter, Melissa, spoke of how her grandfather “beat the IRA terrorists” who tried to kill him in 1981.
A booby-trap bomb detonated
as Mr Pollock pulled out of the driveway of his home in Banbridge, Co Down.
After hearing a noise, he tried to dive out of the vehicle, but the device exploded and he lost his legs in the blast.
“In 1981, cowardly terrorists attempted to end his life by planting a booby-trap bomb under his car,” Melissa said.
“To say this was life-changing is an understatement, but he did not let it define him. In his own words, he said, ‘I’ll beat them.’
“Well, Pop, you did. Even losing your sight some years ago didn’t stop you — what an incredible man you were.”
She went on to describe her grandfather as “a real family man, a loving husband to my granny, and a great role model in life to his sons, to me and to my little boy, Harley, who, truly, was the apple of his eye”.
Following the service, Mr Pollock was buried at Dromore New Cemetery.