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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Murder inquiry after Kevin Kearney's body found in lake | Murder inquiry after Kevin Kearney's body found in lake |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. |
| BBC NI Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney said: "CCTV cameras at the home of the father of four suggest he may have felt under threat, and local sources said he may have been involved in low level drug dealing." | |
| 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' |
| Mr Kearney 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. | 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 backhanders 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. |
| Less than 24 hours after Mr Kearney's body was discovered a man was shot dead at Shipquay Street in Londonderry city centre. |