- Written by Julian O’Neill
- BBC News NI Crime and Justice Correspondent
A man shot dead in west Belfast was suspected of involvement in the murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan a year ago.
Kevin Conway was murdered in Rosnareen Park in the Greenan area of west Belfast on Tuesday night.
A court hearing in 2023 said Mr Conway had been threatened.
Paramedics were called just before 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on Tuesday, but Mr Conway died at the scene, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said.
Police remain at Rosnareen Park and a cordon is in place.
Detective Inspector Neil McGuinness said his thoughts were with Mr Conway’s family and appealed for anyone with information to contact detectives.
Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast Paul Muskie said Tuesday’s shooting was a brutal murder.
“There is no place for guns on our streets,” he said.
Social Democratic/Labour councilor Paul Doherty said the incident had shocked the community.
He added: “Following previous incidents in the area in recent days, local residents are gravely concerned about the prevalence of this crime as we enter the new year.”
People Before Profit MP Jerry Carroll also condemned the killing.
“There is no justification for shooting someone in their own home in cold blood,” he said.
“Every right-thinking person will abhor this shooting.”
Analysis: What is the company?
According to a report published last year based on a police assessment, around 60 organized crime groups operate in Northern Ireland.
The company is one of the most talked about companies.
He is believed to be involved in two previous murders in 2019, of Malcolm McCune in Wallingstown and Shane Whitla in Lurgan.
The gang primarily operates in Lurgan and Portadown, County Armagh.
It is heavily involved in the drug trade and is made up of criminals with loyalist and republican backgrounds.