Belfast shooting: Man with links to dissident republican groups killed

‘No family should have to go through this heartache,’ says MP. ‘Those involved have absolutely no place in our community and should get off the back of local people’

Rodney Drive, Belfast (Google)

A man with reported links to dissident Republican groups has been shot dead in what has been called a “brutal” attack in West Belfast.

The incident occurred at the home of a man who had previously been arrested over the April murder of Dublin gangster Robbie Lawlor, the Irish News’s security correspondent Allison Morris reported.

The new killing occurred in the city’s Rodney Drive area, close to the Lower Falls Road, on Saturday morning, according to local SDLIP councillor Brian Heading.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: “This brutal crime has caused immense shock…

“Police have locked down the street where the shooting took place. I would urge everyone to cooperate with PSNI officers as they investigate.

“Those responsible for this barbaric crime have no support here. They need to be caught and brought to justice. I would encourage anyone with information to bring it to the police as soon as possible.”

The sentiment was echoed by Paul Maskey, the area’s Sinn Féin MP, who called it a “brutal and shameful attack”.

“My thoughts are with the family of the man was has been killed,” he said. “No family should have to go through this heartache.

“Those involved in this act have absolutely no place in our community, they must cease their anti-community activities and get off the back of the people of West Belfast.

“Those responsible must be held accountable before the courts.”

In a statement on Twitter, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Police are aware of reports of a shooting incident in West Belfast this afternoon. Detectives and local police are at the scene. Further updates will follow as enquiries progress.”

Mobster Lawlor was shot dead in a suspected hit job in a supermarket car park in the Northern Irish capital on 4 April. He was 36.

Reports have said he himself was linked to the gruesome killing of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods, whose dismembered remains were found in Dublin in January.