PSNI blame dissidents for murders in Derry and Belfast

Dissident republicans have been blamed for murdering two men in the North in shootings linked to criminal disputes.

Barry McCrory, 36, was gunned down in front of his partner in a flat in Derry city centre this morning, less than 24 hours after the body of father-of-four Kevin Kearney was found dumped in a lake in north Belfast. The 46-year-old had also been shot.

Both victims were known to police for previous offending.

While detectives have yet to officially attribute blame, Stormont’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has accused violent republican extremists of committing both crimes.

One dissident group, which styles itself as the “IRA”, has claimed responsibility for shooting Mr Kearney as he walked his dogs in Belfast’s Alexandra Park.

Police are so far treating the incidents as two separate murder investigations, with early indications that the shootings are linked to localised criminality in the respective cities.

Mr McGuinness said: “Over the past 24 hours two men have been murdered in Belfast and Derry. I condemn these murders without equivocation.

“Those responsible claim to be dissident republicans. They are not republicans of any shade. They are entirely motivated by criminal intent.”