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| Tommy Crossan murder: 26-year-old man released | |
| (2 days later) | |
| A 26-year-old man arrested over the murder of former dissident republican leader Tommy Crossan has been released without charge. | |
| Mr Crossan, 43, was shot dead while sitting in a hut at a fuel business off Springfield Road in west Belfast. | Mr Crossan, 43, was shot dead while sitting in a hut at a fuel business off Springfield Road in west Belfast. |
| The killing of the former senior Continuity IRA member was condemned by the first and deputy first ministers. | The killing of the former senior Continuity IRA member was condemned by the first and deputy first ministers. |
| Mr Crossan, a married father of six, was killed around 16:45 BST on Friday, in view of surrounding houses. | Mr Crossan, a married father of six, was killed around 16:45 BST on Friday, in view of surrounding houses. |
| Initial reports suggested he had been approached while walking to his car and bundled into a yard before being shot. | Initial reports suggested he had been approached while walking to his car and bundled into a yard before being shot. |
| At a press briefing on Saturday, police said they now believed the gunmen fired through the window of the hut, which was being used as an office. | At a press briefing on Saturday, police said they now believed the gunmen fired through the window of the hut, which was being used as an office. |
| The officer leading the murder investigation, Det Supt Jonathan Roberts, said Mr Crossan had been shot a number of times at close range in his upper body area as he sat in the office of the business of a family friend within the Peter Pan industrial complex. | The officer leading the murder investigation, Det Supt Jonathan Roberts, said Mr Crossan had been shot a number of times at close range in his upper body area as he sat in the office of the business of a family friend within the Peter Pan industrial complex. |
| "The murder of Mr Crossan on the Springfield Road yesterday was a brutal and ruthless attack which has no place in society," he said. | "The murder of Mr Crossan on the Springfield Road yesterday was a brutal and ruthless attack which has no place in society," he said. |
| "Mr Crossan was known to police, but no matter what his lifestyle was, absolutely nothing justifies this barbaric action against him. | "Mr Crossan was known to police, but no matter what his lifestyle was, absolutely nothing justifies this barbaric action against him. |
| 'Open mind' | 'Open mind' |
| "Police are working on a number of lines of inquiry. | "Police are working on a number of lines of inquiry. |
| "One line of inquiry centres on individuals or groups who would associate themselves with dissident groupings, however we are keeping an open mind." | "One line of inquiry centres on individuals or groups who would associate themselves with dissident groupings, however we are keeping an open mind." |
| A red-coloured BMW, believed to be linked to the murder, was found burned out a short time later in the Beechmount Grove area of the city. | A red-coloured BMW, believed to be linked to the murder, was found burned out a short time later in the Beechmount Grove area of the city. |
| Police appealed for anyone with information to contact them. | Police appealed for anyone with information to contact them. |
| "Those responsible for this ruthless murder will only be brought before the courts and put behind bars if people with information work with police," Det Supt Roberts added. | "Those responsible for this ruthless murder will only be brought before the courts and put behind bars if people with information work with police," Det Supt Roberts added. |
| It is believed Mr Crossan had been expelled from the Continuity IRA (CIRA) some years ago after falling out with other dissidents. | It is believed Mr Crossan had been expelled from the Continuity IRA (CIRA) some years ago after falling out with other dissidents. |
| First Minister Peter Robinson warned that murder "can never be justified in any circumstances" and urged those with information to come forward. | First Minister Peter Robinson warned that murder "can never be justified in any circumstances" and urged those with information to come forward. |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the killing would be opposed and rejected by "all right-thinking people across the community". | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the killing would be opposed and rejected by "all right-thinking people across the community". |
| 'Shameful situation' | 'Shameful situation' |
| The Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Féin's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, said people in Northern Ireland had hoped the "days of death and murder on our streets" were in the past. | The Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Féin's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, said people in Northern Ireland had hoped the "days of death and murder on our streets" were in the past. |
| "Especially at Eastertide when the city is getting ready for Easter holidays and also the Easter anniversary commemorations. And also on the anniversary of course of the Good Friday agreement - on the 16th anniversary," he said. | "Especially at Eastertide when the city is getting ready for Easter holidays and also the Easter anniversary commemorations. And also on the anniversary of course of the Good Friday agreement - on the 16th anniversary," he said. |
| "It's a shameful situation that thugs and criminals can bring death to our streets." | "It's a shameful situation that thugs and criminals can bring death to our streets." |
| For many year the CIRA was a very small and largely inactive group. It originated in 1986 following a split in the IRA over opposition to republican candidates taking seats in the Irish Republic's parliament. | For many year the CIRA was a very small and largely inactive group. It originated in 1986 following a split in the IRA over opposition to republican candidates taking seats in the Irish Republic's parliament. |
| It announced its reappearance in 1996 when the group destroyed a hotel in County Fermanagh with a bomb thought to contain more than 1,200lbs of explosives. | It announced its reappearance in 1996 when the group destroyed a hotel in County Fermanagh with a bomb thought to contain more than 1,200lbs of explosives. |
| It is believed most of its members are concentrated in Counties Fermanagh and Armagh. | It is believed most of its members are concentrated in Counties Fermanagh and Armagh. |
| It claimed responsibility for the murder of police officer Stephen Carroll in March 2009. | It claimed responsibility for the murder of police officer Stephen Carroll in March 2009. |
| Recently the Continuity IRA is believed to have split between those on the traditional wing - mainly members in the Irish Republic - and a younger faction based mainly in Northern Ireland. | Recently the Continuity IRA is believed to have split between those on the traditional wing - mainly members in the Irish Republic - and a younger faction based mainly in Northern Ireland. |