Former republican hardliner shot dead in Belfast

Police have confirmed dissident republican Tommy Crossan was shot several times while he sat in an office yesterday.

The 43-year-old father-of-six, who was a former senior member of the Continuity IRA (CIRA).

Crossan, who also had five grandchildren, was gunned down at a fuel depot in the grounds of an industrial complex in full view of surrounding houses yesterday afternoon.

Police also wanted information about a red BMW, registration OEZ 9177, which is believed to be linked to the murder. It was found burned out a short time later in the Beechmount Grove area of Belfast, he said.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the fatal shooting of Tommy Crossan, saying:

After the death of hardline republican Tommy Crossan, First Minister Peter Robinson said:

Sinn Fein Stormont Assembly Member Jennifer McCann has said that those behind the killing of former Continuity IRA figure Tommy Crossan had no consideration for anyone in the community except themselves and their own criminal agenda.

She said: "They have shot a man dead and endangered anyone in the immediate vicinity. There is now a family in mourning and a community traumatised by this shooting.

Crossan, 43, was shot dead at a fuel depot in the grounds of an industrial complex in full view of surrounding houses.

Ms McCann added: "It will not go unnoticed that, with sadness, at Easter time as republicans gather to commemorate their patriot dead, that there are criminals on the streets masquerading as republicans for their own ends.

"This community does not want them. They need to listen to this community, stop these senseless actions and go away."

Detectives have launched a murder investigation and have combed the scene for forensics clues, after ex-Continuity IRA (CIRA) figure Tommy Crossan was shot dead in Belfast yesterday afternoon.

Dissident republican suspects in the killing of one of their former commanders in Belfast are "dinosaurs trapped in the past", the city's Lord Mayor said.

Ex-Continuity IRA (CIRA) figure Tommy Crossan, 43, was shot dead at a fuel depot in the grounds of an industrial complex in full view of surrounding houses. Three gunmen may have carried out the killing and a red BMW car was found on fire nearby.

First citizen Mairtin O Muilleoir of Sinn Fein said the killers existed in the dark margins of society but could not slow the pace of change in Belfast. He claimed: "They are dinosaurs trapped in the past and I urge everyone to work with the police to remove them from our streets."

Mr O'Muilleoir told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight: "There are some micro groups of criminals masquerading under an assortment of republican labels. They have no support within the community."

Read: Former republican hardliner shot dead in Belfast

The man shot dead in Belfast this afternoon was a former leader of the hardline republican group the Continuity IRA.

Tommy Crossan headed the CIRA after splitting from the more mainstream Provisional IRA during the Northern Ireland peace process.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Mr Crossan's death, although ti has been reported that he was the subject of death threats from some of his former republican allies.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Detectives from Serious Crime Branch have launched a murder investigation after a man was shot dead in the Springfield Road area of West Belfast."