Man shot dead in Belfast named as former IRA commander Davison
A former IRA commander has been shot dead in Belfast, it has been confirmed.
Gerard “Jock” Davison was shot this morning in the republican Markets area near the city centre.
He was fatally wounded on Welsh Street, police said.
Senior Sinn Féin member Raymond McCartney confirmed his identity.
Small number of people still here at the police cordon in the markets area pic.twitter.com/HNtVdf9KdY
— Jordan Moates (@jordan_utv) May 5, 2015
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "This is a horrendous crime and those responsible have shown no regard for anyone that could have been caught in the middle of it during the school rush hour.
"Witnesses have described how the man was shot in the street.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the individual's family at this traumatic time.
"People here want to move on from the violence of the past. This community will reject those who bring murder and mayhem to our streets. I would appeal to anyone with any information to bring it forward as soon as possible."
The scene at the Markets where a high-profile republican was shot dead this morning pic.twitter.com/PrfX9RR37x
— Belfast Live (@BelfastLive) May 5, 2015
A police statement said: "PSNI can confirm that a man has been shot dead in Welsh Street in south Belfast.
"The incident was reported at 9.15am this morning."
It is understood the victim, a father of three, was making his way to a community centre from which he worked when he was attacked.
Sinn Fein South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey said: "What we have had here today is a very brutal killing of a local man.
"He is a very well-known person in this area. His family are well-known and he is very well-regarded in this area as a long-standing republican."
He said the family, who live in the area, were "very distressed", but he declined to speculate on who was behind the shooting.
Mr Maskey added: "I am not blaming anybody. I am not getting into any sort of speculation but quite clearly the people who killed this man this morning have robbed the community of a valuable worker and robbed a family of a loving family member.
"Clearly they have nothing to offer."
A large cordon has been put up around the scene and a police forensic tent has been erected over the victim's body.
Small groups of local people and a number of high-profile Belfast republicans stood at the police line watching scenes-of-crime officers in white forensic suits who spent most of the morning carrying out detailed examinations of the area in driving rain.
Most people were reluctant to speak about the shooting but have expressed shock.
