Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Daughters see father shot dead
Man, 57, killed in front of daughters Possible‘ dissident republican motives’
A MAN brutally murdered at his home in front of his daughters had been warned by police he was living under death threat.
Kieran Wylie, 57, from West Belfast, was shot several times at close range in Lenadoon on Sunday night.
Two of his daughters, one aged just 16, witnessed the attack.
He died at the scene despite help from neighbours and the best efforts of paramedics who tried to save him.
Mr Wylie, who was known to the PSNI, was at home around 10pm when gunmen entered the property on Lenadoon Avenue and opened fire.
One line of inquiry in the police investigation is a violent dissident republican motive.
Police are still searching for the weapons used in the attack. PSNI Detective
Chief Inspector Darren Mccartney said: “Certainly one of the lines of inquiry is that there is a violent dissident republican motive towards this murder.
“I’m happy to speak to anyone about this incident. I need you to think back.
“I need you to recall when you last saw Kieran – where was he, who was he with and what was he doing?
“No matter how insignificant you might think this [information] is, it’s got potential to be of value to my enquiry.”
The detective confirmed Mr Wylie was known to police and had been previously informed he was under threat.
DCI Mccartney said the murder had been witnessed by two of Mr Wylie’s children.
He added: “The lifelong effects of what they witnessed are unimaginable.”
Detectives have appealed for
witnesses who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage that could help the investigation.
The public have been asked to upload any information, videos and images surrounding the incident to a special PSNI server – the Major Incident Public Portal at mipp. police.uk. The system can be accessed from any device with internet access.
DCI Mccartney said: “Local residents tried to help Kieran and this community will be rightly shocked at what has taken place in this residential area.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Lenadoon Avenue [on Sunday night] between 9pm and 11pm to contact detectives at Ladas Drive. We are particularly keen to recover CCTV, mobile phone and dash cam footage. We want to speak to anyone who has any information about the incident or the events leading up to it.
“Those involved in this appalling murder offer nothing to the local community and need to be brought to justice.
“Nothing justifies killing another person and the recovery of the gun that was used in last night’s murder is a key line of enquiry for me.”
The DCI urged the public to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1589 of 17/05/20, but said potential witnesses can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
He added: “Those involved in this murder selfishly gave no thought to the impact on frontline emergency services who are already working hard to keep people safe during this global pandemic with an already stretched resource.
“They also showed a complete disregard for the community.”
Meanwhile, community activists and politicians have condemned the killing.
Justice Minister Naomi Long hit out at the shooting and urged anyone with information to come forward.
She said: “I unreservedly condemn this senseless and brutal murder and offer my deepest sympathies to the family. There is no place for the gun in our society and those responsible for this appalling crime have left a family grieving and a community in shock.
“Our first responders are dealing with an unprecedented health emergency and are trying to protect and save lives. It is beyond comprehension why anyone would divert them from those lifesaving duties at this or any other time.
“I would urge anyone with information to pass it to the police on the 101 number or to the Crimestoppers charity.”
West Belfast MP Alex Maskey said: “I condemn those responsible for this attack and they must be brought before the courts.
“A police operation is ongoing in the Lenadoon area and I would appeal to anyone with information on this shooting to bring it forward to the PSNI.”
The lifelong effects of what his children saw are not imaginable
DCI MCCARTNEY BELFAST YESTERDAY