Clifford was a 30-year-old Protestant, husband, and Reserve RUC GC officer from Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry. He tragically lost his life when the Provisional IRA ambushed his patrol near Toomebridge during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Clifford was traveling with two regular RUC officers when their vehicle was attacked at a junction on the Castledawson–Toomebridge Road. While all three officers were struck by gunfire, Clifford was fatally wounded and pronounced dead on arrival at the Mid-Ulster Hospital. The other officers survived without serious injuries.

Amazingly, this was not the first attempt on Clifford’s life—three years earlier, he had narrowly escaped when a gunman opened fire in his home.

His funeral was held at Bellaghy Presbyterian Church, where the minister strongly condemned retaliation, saying:

"Any kind of direct action by unauthorised individuals or groups only perpetuates the carnage and misery we want to overcome."

A man was later sentenced to 8 years in prison for withholding information about the murder.

🕊️ This video tells Clifford’s story as part of remembering those who lived and died during the Troubles.

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