Police have open mind on drug dealer's murder

Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has not ruled out the possibility the Provisional IRA murdered a Northern Ireland drug dealer.

But he added it is still too early to say which group killed Matthew Burns in Castlewellan, Co Down on Thursday night.

If the IRA was found to be behind the killing of Mr Burns, who survived two previous attempts on his life, it could affect the status of its ceasefire.

Mr Flanagan's comments were supported by Secretary of State Dr John Reid who said he was waiting for a full security assessment on the murder.

Despite senior security sources linking the Provisional IRA to the killing, Dr Reid said he had yet to be briefed.

"It is too early to make any firm commitment on that. I am aware of the speculation about the Castlewellan murder," he said.

"There are only implications for the ceasefire if we can discover who is actually behind this.

"Obviously we keep the ceasefire under review constantly for all of the groups," he added.

Mr Burns was gunned down as he travelled with his brother Patrick in a car along Burrenbridge Road.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the shooting, in which the dead man's brother was also injured.