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| New arrest over Belfast murder of ex-IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan | New arrest over Belfast murder of ex-IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan |
| (8 days later) | |
| A man has been arrested in Belfast in connection with the murder of former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan – a killing that has led to power sharing in Northern Ireland being pushed close to collapse. | A man has been arrested in Belfast in connection with the murder of former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan – a killing that has led to power sharing in Northern Ireland being pushed close to collapse. |
| The 41-year-old was arrested in east Belfast not far from where McGuigan was gunned down in an apparent revenge shooting in August. | The 41-year-old was arrested in east Belfast not far from where McGuigan was gunned down in an apparent revenge shooting in August. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland believes individual Provisional IRA (PIRA) veterans murdered McGuigan in retaliation for the murder of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in May near the city centre. But the PSNI chief constable, George Hamilton, has stressed that the IRA leadership did not sanction the McGuigan killing. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland believes individual Provisional IRA (PIRA) veterans murdered McGuigan in retaliation for the murder of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison in May near the city centre. But the PSNI chief constable, George Hamilton, has stressed that the IRA leadership did not sanction the McGuigan killing. |
| The PSNI’s assessment has led to the Ulster Unionist party withdrawing from the five-party power-sharing executive at Stormont. The UUP claims the role of PIRA veterans in the McGuigan murder was a clear breach of faith between republicans and unionists, with the promise back in 2005 that the IRA would no longer exist as a military force broken. | The PSNI’s assessment has led to the Ulster Unionist party withdrawing from the five-party power-sharing executive at Stormont. The UUP claims the role of PIRA veterans in the McGuigan murder was a clear breach of faith between republicans and unionists, with the promise back in 2005 that the IRA would no longer exist as a military force broken. |
| Twelve people have been arrested and questioned in relation to the McGuigan murder but only one has been charged with possessing a Glock automatic pistol at his home in west Belfast. No one has been charged with murdering the 53-year-old one-time IRA prisoner. | |
| Meanwhile, a Democratic Unionist minister at Stormont has warned that her party will take action if the prime minister refuses to enact legislation allowing the government in London to expel Sinn Féin from the coalition. | Meanwhile, a Democratic Unionist minister at Stormont has warned that her party will take action if the prime minister refuses to enact legislation allowing the government in London to expel Sinn Féin from the coalition. |
| Northern Ireland’s finance minister, Arlene Foster, said: “We will be taking unilateral action next Monday. | Northern Ireland’s finance minister, Arlene Foster, said: “We will be taking unilateral action next Monday. |
| “We will give them space the rest of this week to come forward with their own solution, but if nothing happens between now and next week, we will be taking our own action.” | “We will give them space the rest of this week to come forward with their own solution, but if nothing happens between now and next week, we will be taking our own action.” |
| Among the demands the DUP made during a meeting with David Cameron in Downing Street on Tuesday was for the arrest of two IRA ex-prisoners released early from the Maze prison under the terms of the Good Friday agreement of 1998. Peter Robinson has named the two prisoners and alleges both convicted paramilitaries had been arrested and questioned over the McGuigan murder. | Among the demands the DUP made during a meeting with David Cameron in Downing Street on Tuesday was for the arrest of two IRA ex-prisoners released early from the Maze prison under the terms of the Good Friday agreement of 1998. Peter Robinson has named the two prisoners and alleges both convicted paramilitaries had been arrested and questioned over the McGuigan murder. |
| The crunch date is next Monday when the Stormont assembly and executive is due to resume business after the summer recess. Both the Irish and British governments are trying to kickstart negotiations between unionist and nationalist parties to solve the crisis. | The crunch date is next Monday when the Stormont assembly and executive is due to resume business after the summer recess. Both the Irish and British governments are trying to kickstart negotiations between unionist and nationalist parties to solve the crisis. |