Armed gardaí surround Donegal house

Gardaí hunting a murder suspect have surrounded a house in Donegal this morning.

Armed Garda officers, who are providing assistance to detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigating the shooting of 35-year-old Barry McCrory, have been conducting intensive search operations in the Burnfoot area.

Yesterday the PSNI had warned the public about a suspect they want to interview - 58-year-old Kieran McLaughlin.

They urged people not to approach the man if they saw him.

Burnfoot is only a short distance from Derry, around five miles (8 km) across the Irish border.

A Garda spokesman confirmed a property in the area had been surrounded but said no further details would be provided as the operation remained “live”.

Mr McCrory was gunned down in a flat in Derry city centre on Thursday morning.

His partner, who was in the Shipquay Street property at the time, was bundled into another room by the killer before the fatal shots were fired.

It is understood the incident related to a fallout over alleged criminality.

Mr McCrory had been known to police for previous offending.

The murder took place less than 24 hours after the body of a father-of-four was found in a lake in north Belfast.

It is understood Kevin Kearney, 46, was shot dead by dissident republicans. A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Officers are not linking the two murders at this stage.