Man murdered in Belfast home
Police say dissident republicans murdered a man at his home in west Belfast today.
The 35-year-old victim was shot three times by two gunmen who called at his home in Ross Road.
The man’s partner and six children were all at home when the killers called at about 11am, shooting him in the chest, thigh and ankle.
Detectives believe the murder might have been a so-called punishment shooting which went too far.
One said: “It may have been one that went wrong or just got out of control.
“I wouldn’t even say this was the result of any feud. He could just have offended somebody and ended up getting this.”
Even though the shooting took place in the staunchly republican west Belfast, security sources immediately ruled out the Provisional IRA.
Police believe renegade republicans opposed to Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and their support for the Northern Ireland peace process were behind the murder.
It is believed the victim opened the door to the gunmen.
“There was no forced entry. The door was open and he let them in,” one source said.
