Four held over 'UVF target's' murder

Four men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Co Antrim, police confirmed today.

The four, who were arrested earlier this morning, are being questioned about the murder of John Allen at his home in Ballyclare last month.

Mr Allen, 31, died after being shot in the head and legs by two masked men at his flat in the Rashee Park area of the town.

The loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force have been blamed for the killing.

The dead man’s father, also called John, has said he believed his son may have been targeted because he was the best friend of a man put on a witness protection scheme because of a court case involving alleged UVF members.

Shortly after the killing, police said they did not believe it was the result of a so-called paramilitary style punishment attack that went wrong.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “It is our considered opinion based on analysis of the scene that Mr Allen was murdered.”