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| IRA bomber questioned over Kevin McGuigan murder | IRA bomber questioned over Kevin McGuigan murder |
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| An IRA bomber who murdered nine Protestant civilians is among five men being questioned about the killing of the former republican prisoner Kevin McGuigan in Belfast. | An IRA bomber who murdered nine Protestant civilians is among five men being questioned about the killing of the former republican prisoner Kevin McGuigan in Belfast. |
| Sean Kelly, who was responsible for the Shankill bomb massacre in 1993, was detained on Tuesday alongside three others, the Guardian understands. They were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of McGuigan at his East Belfast home last week. A fifth man was arrested on Wednesday morning. | Sean Kelly, who was responsible for the Shankill bomb massacre in 1993, was detained on Tuesday alongside three others, the Guardian understands. They were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of McGuigan at his East Belfast home last week. A fifth man was arrested on Wednesday morning. |
| Suspicion has fallen on ex-Provisional IRA veterans, thought to be taking revenge for the May killing of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in the Market district of central Belfast. | Suspicion has fallen on ex-Provisional IRA veterans, thought to be taking revenge for the May killing of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in the Market district of central Belfast. |
| Kelly served seven years of a multiple life sentence, being freed under the de facto amnesty for IRA and loyalist prisoners as part of the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Kelly is a hate figure for Ulster Prostestants for being one of the two IRA bombers who planted an explosive in Frizzels fish shop on the Shankill Road in October 1993 – one of the bloodiest months of the late Troubles. His victims included a seven-year-old child, a teenage girl and an elderly couple. | Kelly served seven years of a multiple life sentence, being freed under the de facto amnesty for IRA and loyalist prisoners as part of the Good Friday agreement in 1998. Kelly is a hate figure for Ulster Prostestants for being one of the two IRA bombers who planted an explosive in Frizzels fish shop on the Shankill Road in October 1993 – one of the bloodiest months of the late Troubles. His victims included a seven-year-old child, a teenage girl and an elderly couple. |
| Republican sources confirmed Kelly was among the five held in relation to the McGuigan killing. The men are aged 39, 41, 44, 49 and 53. Weapons recovered during searches in Greater Belfast have been sent for forensic examination, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. | Republican sources confirmed Kelly was among the five held in relation to the McGuigan killing. The men are aged 39, 41, 44, 49 and 53. Weapons recovered during searches in Greater Belfast have been sent for forensic examination, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. |
| Det Chf Insp John McVea said the fifth suspect – the 49-year-old – was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the serious crime suite at Antrim police station. “A number of searches are currently taking place in various parts of Belfast,” he said. | Det Chf Insp John McVea said the fifth suspect – the 49-year-old – was arrested on Wednesday and taken to the serious crime suite at Antrim police station. “A number of searches are currently taking place in various parts of Belfast,” he said. |
| McGuigan’s murder in front of his wife outside their home has sparked political controversy, with unionists questioning whether the IRA is still active even though the organisation said it was ending its “war” in 2005 and decommissioning its weapons. | McGuigan’s murder in front of his wife outside their home has sparked political controversy, with unionists questioning whether the IRA is still active even though the organisation said it was ending its “war” in 2005 and decommissioning its weapons. |
| Sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that one of the weapons used to kill McGuigan, a 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 by former enemies. | Sources in Belfast have told the Guardian that one of the weapons used to kill McGuigan, a 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 by former enemies. |
| The PSNI recovered two firearms during searches on Tuesday. McGuigan was buried on Tuesday amid tight security, with armoured police Land Rovers and helicopters observing mourners at the requiem mass and later at the city cemetery in East Belfast. At the funeral, a priest appealed for the blood-letting and vengeance to stop. | The PSNI recovered two firearms during searches on Tuesday. McGuigan was buried on Tuesday amid tight security, with armoured police Land Rovers and helicopters observing mourners at the requiem mass and later at the city cemetery in East Belfast. At the funeral, a priest appealed for the blood-letting and vengeance to stop. |