This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27081120
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Tommy Crossan: Dissident republican shot dead in west Belfast | Tommy Crossan: Dissident republican shot dead in west Belfast |
(35 minutes later) | |
A prominent dissident republican has been shot dead in west Belfast. | A prominent dissident republican has been shot dead in west Belfast. |
Tommy Crossan was shot at a fuel depot off the Springfield Road. It is understood he was shot several times. | Tommy Crossan was shot at a fuel depot off the Springfield Road. It is understood he was shot several times. |
Mr Crossan was once a senior figure in the Continuity IRA. It is believed he had been expelled from the group some years ago after falling out with other dissidents. | Mr Crossan was once a senior figure in the Continuity IRA. It is believed he had been expelled from the group some years ago after falling out with other dissidents. |
It is also understood that he had been informed that threats had been made against his life. | It is also understood that he had been informed that threats had been made against his life. |
The attack happened late on Friday afternoon when the area was busy with people. A local priest gave the last rites. | The attack happened late on Friday afternoon when the area was busy with people. A local priest gave the last rites. |
A red BMW car was later found on fire at Beechmount Grove close to the scene of the attack. | A red BMW car was later found on fire at Beechmount Grove close to the scene of the attack. |
A section of the Springfield Road, between the Falls Road and Elswick Street, has been closed to traffic. | A section of the Springfield Road, between the Falls Road and Elswick Street, has been closed to traffic. |
'Sense of shock' | |
Colin Keenan, a councillor for the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said it was a horrific scene, with the dead man lying in the grounds of the industrial estate and exposed to view from surrounding residents' windows. | Colin Keenan, a councillor for the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said it was a horrific scene, with the dead man lying in the grounds of the industrial estate and exposed to view from surrounding residents' windows. |
Relatives at the scene are devastated, he added. | Relatives at the scene are devastated, he added. |
Mr Keenan said: "I condemn this murder completely and in doing so I reflect the view of all of the community. | Mr Keenan said: "I condemn this murder completely and in doing so I reflect the view of all of the community. |
"There is a real sense of shock that this has happened. | "There is a real sense of shock that this has happened. |
"We have long hoped that the shadow of death had been lifted from west Belfast. | "We have long hoped that the shadow of death had been lifted from west Belfast. |
"Today's event is a terrible, tragic reminder of the violent conflict of the past." | "Today's event is a terrible, tragic reminder of the violent conflict of the past." |
Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast, Jennifer McCann, said: "This killing was in broad daylight in a very busy part of the Springfield Road. | |
"Those behind it had no consideration for anyone in this community except themselves and their own criminal agenda. | |
'Appalling crime' | |
"This community does not want them. They need to listen to this community, stop these senseless actions and go away." | |
David Ford, Northern Ireland's justice minister, said the murder should be condemned by all. | David Ford, Northern Ireland's justice minister, said the murder should be condemned by all. |
Mr Ford said: "I condemn this appalling crime and offer my sympathies to the family. | Mr Ford said: "I condemn this appalling crime and offer my sympathies to the family. |
"Those responsible for this cowardly act will be pursued by the authorities and I would urge anyone with information to pass it to the police." | "Those responsible for this cowardly act will be pursued by the authorities and I would urge anyone with information to pass it to the police." |
Belfast's lord mayor, Máirtin Ó Muilleoir of Sinn Fein, tweeted: "Shame on those who bring death to Belfast streets at Eastertide. They represent no-one but themselves and have no place in our great city." | Belfast's lord mayor, Máirtin Ó Muilleoir of Sinn Fein, tweeted: "Shame on those who bring death to Belfast streets at Eastertide. They represent no-one but themselves and have no place in our great city." |
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: "Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Springfield Road area of west Belfast this afternoon. | A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: "Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Springfield Road area of west Belfast this afternoon. |
"One man has been shot dead in the vicinity of the Peter Pan centre." | "One man has been shot dead in the vicinity of the Peter Pan centre." |