Kevin Kearney Murder - Man Arrested

A 39-year-old man has been arrested as part of a murder inquiry into the death of Kevin Kearney in north Belfast on Wednesday.

Mr Kearney was shot on Tuesday morning as he took his dogs for a walk in Alexandra Park.

His body was discovered in a nearby lake at 15:30 on Wednesday afternoon.

A dissident republican group calling itself 'the IRA' told the Irish News it had carried out the attack.

Detectives from the Serious Crime Branch have asked anyone who was in the park between 08:30 and 09:30am on Tuesday, or who knows anything regarding the incident, to get in touch.

It is understood that Mr Kearney's partner raised the alarm when he did not return home on Tuesday.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, said: "On Tuesday morning Mr Kearney followed his usual weekday routine by taking his daughter to school, then returning home and at approximately 09:00 took his two dogs for a walk in Alexandra Park.

"On Tuesday the dogs returned to the Dunmore area without Mr Kearney. A relative contacted police at 20:00 on Tuesday night to say he was missing.

"Local police began to make inquiries and conducted a number of searches in the area which resulted in the discovery of Mr Kearney’s body in a lake at 15:30 yesterday. He had been shot.

"Kevin was wearing dark clothing with bright blue trainers when he was shot. I have three appeals:

Did anyone see Mr Kearney in Alexandra Park on Tuesday morning between 08:30 and 09:15 with his dogs? We know that people were in the park walking their dogs and out running.

Did anyone see a silver Peugeot 406 car in the Alexandra Park area on Tuesday morning? Its registration number is GNZ 8168. This car was found burnt out at Donore Court in the New Lodge area around 09:30 on Tuesday morning.

Does anyone have any information about Mr Kearney or those involved in his murder?"

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said: "The murder of Kevin Kearney is to be condemned outright. The pseudo 'republican' group that carried out the killing have no support whatsoever with the local community.

"In fact it is common knowledge that they have within their ranks people who have taken back handers from drug dealers so that they can continue peddling drugs. This makes them the same as the drug dealers who bring death and destruction to the community.

"Masquerading under the name republican does not stop people from seeing these groups for what they really are. I would call on anyone who has any information on this killing to bring it forward to the PSNI."

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at the Incident Room in Musgrave Street police station on 0845 600 8000.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(IT/CD)