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Trio arrested over fatal shooting of ex-IRA gunman Kevin McGuigan Trio arrested over fatal shooting of ex-IRA gunman Kevin McGuigan
(about 1 hour later)
Three men have been arrested in connection with last week’s murder of the former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan in Northern Ireland.Three men have been arrested in connection with last week’s murder of the former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan in Northern Ireland.
The trio were detained on Tuesday morning, just hours before a requiem mass was due to be held for McGuigan at a Catholic church in east Belfast.The trio were detained on Tuesday morning, just hours before a requiem mass was due to be held for McGuigan at a Catholic church in east Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the men, aged 53, 44 and 41, were arrested in various areas of greater Belfast. They were being questioned about the fatal shooting of McGuigan outside his home in Comber Court, in the Catholic enclave of Short Strand, last Wednesday night.The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the men, aged 53, 44 and 41, were arrested in various areas of greater Belfast. They were being questioned about the fatal shooting of McGuigan outside his home in Comber Court, in the Catholic enclave of Short Strand, last Wednesday night.
The 53-year-old ex-prisoner had feared for his life because fellow republicans had accused him of assassinating the former Belfast IRA leader Gerard “Jock” Davison in the nearby Markets area in May. The 53-year-old ex-prisoner had feared for his life because fellow republicans accused him of assassinating the former Belfast IRA leader Gerard “Jock” Davison in the nearby Markets area in May.
Relatives of McGuigan have blamed his death on people connected to the Provisional IRA, who were supposed to have decommissioned all their weapons and disbanded back in 2005.Relatives of McGuigan have blamed his death on people connected to the Provisional IRA, who were supposed to have decommissioned all their weapons and disbanded back in 2005.
Sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that one of the weapons used to kill the father-of-nine may have come from a batch of guns smuggled into the country from Florida during the peace process in 1999 by the IRA to defend itself from attacks by former enemies. Sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that one of the weapons used to kill the father of nine may have come from a batch of guns smuggled into the country from Florida by the IRA during the peace process in 1999 to defend itself from attacks.
Wreaths have been laid outside the McGuigan home, close to where he was shot, spelling out the words: “Husband”, “Uncle”, “Daddy”, “Brother” and “Son.” Wreaths have been laid outside the McGuigan home, spelling out the words: “Husband”, “Uncle”, “Daddy”, “Brother” and “Son”.
Victims’ campaigners – including Catherine McCartney, a former neighbour of McGuigan whose brother Robert was killed by IRA members outside a Belfast pub a decade ago – have accused the PSNI of covering up the truth about which organisation killed the ex-IRA gunman.Victims’ campaigners – including Catherine McCartney, a former neighbour of McGuigan whose brother Robert was killed by IRA members outside a Belfast pub a decade ago – have accused the PSNI of covering up the truth about which organisation killed the ex-IRA gunman.
The PSNI has denied that it is incapable of investigating killings committed by former paramilitaries, which are still taking place 21 years after the original IRA and Ulster loyalist ceasefires.The PSNI has denied that it is incapable of investigating killings committed by former paramilitaries, which are still taking place 21 years after the original IRA and Ulster loyalist ceasefires.
Both the PSNI and Sinn Féin have said speculation that mainstream IRA members were behind the killing of McGuigan was unhelpful, reckless and dangerous.Both the PSNI and Sinn Féin have said speculation that mainstream IRA members were behind the killing of McGuigan was unhelpful, reckless and dangerous.
However, usually reliable republican and security sources insist that IRA veterans rather than any dissident republican group were responsible for his death.However, usually reliable republican and security sources insist that IRA veterans rather than any dissident republican group were responsible for his death.