A man who had his throat cut on the same night Robert McCartney was stabbed to death was arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison.
Brendan Devine was arrested yesterday (TUE) morning by detectives investigating the murder of the 47-year-old republican shot dead in Welsh Street in the Markets area of Belfast on Monday.
A property in north Belfast was also searched in relation to the investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, who is leading the investigation confirmed that the 41-year-old had been arrested and questioned "at a police station in the city"
The detective also made a further appeal for information about the murder of the community worker several times on his way to work on Monday morning.
Devine was the chief prosecution witness in the trial against the murder victim's uncle Terence Davison who was charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Mr McCartney.
Terence Davison was later acquitted of involvement in the McCartney murder.
The fight in Magennis's Bar in Belfast city centre in 2005 had kicked off after Brendan Devine and Terence Davison clashed over lewd remarks made to a woman in the company of Davison and others who had been returning from a Bloody Sunday commemoration in Derry.
Jock Davison received a hand injury during the fight and left the bar to go to the Royal Victoria Hospital's A&E department for treatment.
Brendan Devine had his throat cut with a broken bottle in the altercation that spilled out onto the street where Mr McCartney was stabbed to death.
The murder of Mr Davison, a former member of the IRAs Northern Command, has caused shock among republicans.
A gunman stepped out of an entry and shot the high ranking republican several times in the head and chest before making off on foot.
Police have ruled out both loyalist and dissident republican involvement, with criminal elements being blamed on carrying out the shooting in a revenge attack.
Sources claim the shooting was carried out by the relative of man murdered by the IRA in the early 1990s.
Mr Davison would have been at the head of the IRA in Belfast during a time when the organisation was involved in a period of 'housekeeping' that resulted in the deaths of a number of people who had fell foul of the organisation.
The father of three is expected to have a full republican funeral that may be postponed until Monday due to delays in the body being released to the family.
A loyalist band parade that passes close to the Markets area on Saturday may also be a factor in the family delaying the funeral, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of republicans from across Ireland.
Parish Priest of St Malachy's in south Belfast Fr Michael McGinnity said yesterday the murder of Mr Davison was a "depraved and diabolical crime".
"Nothing can justify such a barbaric act. The person who carried out this murder also showed a callous disregard for the lives of the people of the area and children on their way to school", he said.
"What happened yesterday needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all right thinking people.
"I would also appeal to anyone who has any information about this murder, to contact the PSNI", Fr McGinnity added.
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