Police hunt masked gunmen behind ‘callous and reckless’ murder

POLICE have described the murder of a 28-year-old man in west Belfast at the weekend as callous and reckless.

Warren Crossan, who had significant links to dissident republicans, was shot a number of times in St Katharine’s Road on Saturday.

He was chased by two masked gunmen through streets packed with people and motorists before he was gunned down.

His father Tommy Crossan was a prominent dissident republican and was shot dead at a fuel depot in Belfast on Good Friday in 2014.

Detective Chief Inspector

Darren McCartney told reporters that links to organised crime have not been ruled out and it is too early to speculate on a motive.

“This is a callous and reckless killing. Bringing firearms out into residential streets of west Belfast in broad daylight just beggars belief,” he said.

“The gunmen did not give any thought to the risk this posed to the residents and members of the public carrying out their everyday business in the area.

“One of these shots struck a vehicle belonging to a local resident and that just goes to show the callousness that these gunmen had.

“While it is too early to speculate on a motive for the murder, links to an organised crime element have not been ruled out.”

It is understood one of the potential lines of inquiry is a link to the recent murder in north Belfast in April of Dubliner Robbie Lawlor.

Lawlor, 36, was gunned down outside a house in Etna Drive in Belfast in April.

He had previously been linked with the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods in Co Louth in January.

Police said Mr Crossan was “well known” to officers.