Gun victim killed in front of terrified schoolchildren

A MAN has been shot dead in front of terrified children from a nearby school in west Belfast.

Panicked parents heard gunfire and rushed to the scene at around 3pm yesterday afternoon, elected representatives added.

The victim was sitting in his parked Porsche car when the attack happened near St Mary’s Grammar School on the Glen Road.

Forensics officers were combing the area for clues yesterday. Detectives have not yet commented on any potential motives for the attack or who may be responsible.

Paramilitary-style shootings are still a regular occurrence in the North, although most are not fatal.

Following the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said: ‘I would like to appeal to anyone who saw a man in his 40s, wearing a high-vis vest with the word Security on the back, heading in the direction of Glen Road, as well as anyone who witnessed the shooting or was in the Glen Road area from 3pm [yesterday], to come forward and speak to police.’

St Mary’s school said it will be closed today, and said that it will provide pupils with counselling and support services.

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said it is ‘deeply concerning that this killing was carried out in full view of hundreds of kids who were leaving school at the time’.

And SDLP Belfast City councillor Tim Attwood said of the killing: ‘There is absolutely no place for this in 2018; this madness belongs in the past and we cannot allow it to once again become our normality.’