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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Murder inquiry after Kevin Kearney's body found in lake | Murder inquiry after Kevin Kearney's body found in lake |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man whose body was found in a lake in north Belfast had been shot. | A man whose body was found in a lake in north Belfast had been shot. |
| The man, named locally as Kevin Kearney, was found by police in Alexandra Park, off the Antrim Road, on Wednesday afternoon. | The man, named locally as Kevin Kearney, was found by police in Alexandra Park, off the Antrim Road, on Wednesday afternoon. |
| It is understood he was in his 40s. | It is understood he was in his 40s. |
| The Irish News reported that it received a statement from a dissident republican group calling itself "the IRA" that claimed it killed Mr Kearney. | |
| In July 2012, a new paramilitary group styling itself "the IRA" is believed to have been formed from an amalgamation of previously disparate dissident republican organisations. | In July 2012, a new paramilitary group styling itself "the IRA" is believed to have been formed from an amalgamation of previously disparate dissident republican organisations. |
| The police say they want to hear from anyone who was in the park between 08:30 BST and 09:30 BST on Tuesday. | The police say they want to hear from anyone who was in the park between 08:30 BST and 09:30 BST on Tuesday. |
| 'Shock' | 'Shock' |
| It is believed Mr Kearney was a father of four who lived in the Dunmore housing estate, close to Alexandra Park. | It is believed Mr Kearney was a father of four who lived in the Dunmore housing estate, close to Alexandra Park. |
| It is thought his partner reported him missing after he went for a walk with his dogs in the park on Tuesday but did not return home. | It is thought his partner reported him missing after he went for a walk with his dogs in the park on Tuesday but did not return home. |
| DUP North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said: "The entire community will share in the sense of shock at this appalling news. | DUP North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said: "The entire community will share in the sense of shock at this appalling news. |
| "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased. I appeal for anyone who can assist the police investigation to pass on whatever information they have." | "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased. I appeal for anyone who can assist the police investigation to pass on whatever information they have." |
| Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said: "The murder of Kevin Kearney is to be condemned outright. The pseudo 'republican' group that carried out the killing have no support whatsoever within the local community. | |
| "In fact, it is common knowledge that they have within their ranks people who have taken back-handers from drug dealers so that they can continue peddling drugs. This makes them the same as the drug dealers who bring death and destruction to the community. | |
| "Masquerading under the name republican does not stop people from seeing these groups for what they really are. I would call on anyone who has any information on this killing to bring it forward to the PSNI. | |
| "The people of north Belfast have suffered enough throughout the years without the blight of these maverick, self-serving, hypocritical groups bringing death to the community." | |
| SDLP councillor Pat Convery, who chairs the north Belfast community safety partnership, said: "This is a very tragic event. | |
| "My thoughts and prayers are with the man's family." | "My thoughts and prayers are with the man's family." |
| The park has been closed to the public while the investigation continues. | The park has been closed to the public while the investigation continues. |