Public figure questioned over postman's murder

A unionist public figure is one of two men being questioned over the loyalist murder of postman Danny McColgan.

A unionist public figure is one of two men being questioned over the UDA murder of Catholic postman Danny McColgan.

He was arrested along with another man by detectives investigating the murder in north Belfast.

Police have not named the two men, but loyalist sources say one of them is a public representative from the greater Belfast area.

Detectives have released without charge two other people who were being questioned after being arrested on the day of Mr McColgan's murder.

The 20-year-old was gunned down on Saturday morning as he arrived for work at the Royal Mail sorting office at Rathcoole on the outskirts of north Belfast.

Hundreds of postal workers are expected to attend Mr McColgan's funeral.

Workers throughout Northern Ireland have been asked to observe a two-minute silence at noon to coincide with the funeral.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Dr John Reid condemned the murder saying: "It was a postman on Saturday. It could be any public servant or any worker tomorrow."

Trade union leaders have called a half-day stoppage in Northern Ireland on Friday in protest at the murder.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Tom Gillen commented: "We feel that it is an expression of how seriously we take these concerns and we are making contact with government departments to see how we can do this."