West Belfast Shooting Condemned

The PSNI is appealing for witnesses after a man was shot dead in west Belfast over the Easter weekend.

The shooting occurred in the Kennedy Way area on the evening of Saturday 30 March.

At approximately 23.20, police received reports of several shots and a man injured in the area of the Enterprise Centre in Kennedy Way.

The man was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The victim has been named as 26-year-old Kieran McManus.

The Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter said: "At around 11.20pm an armed man got out of a car and shot Kieran a number of times at close range as he was placing a pizza delivery into the rear of his car. The man got back into the car before making off from the scene. A maroon coloured Vauxhall Astra believed to be linked to the murder was found burned out a short time later in the Denewood Park area of the city.

"We are specifically appealing for anyone who may have been in the area around this time and who may have witnessed any specific activity or vehicles in the area. We are particularly appealing for anyone who may have witnessed a maroon coloured Vauxhall Astra car seen leaving the area around the time of the murder or who may have seen it in the Denewood Park area.

"What happened in Kennedy Way last night was a brutal and ruthless attack which has no place in society. We are keeping an open mind to the motive at this time and we are working on a number of lines of enquiry."

West Belfast Assembly Member Alex Attwood said: "I condemn the terrible death of a young man on Kennedy Way. At a time of hope in the Christian calendar, this murder is all the more appalling. The sympathy of all will go to a deeply grieving family.

"I urge anyone with information about this attack to contact the police."

(IT/CD)