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Davison murder investigation "very challenging"

Gerard 'Jock' Davidson, who was shot dead in the Markets area of Belfast last Tuesday.
Gerard 'Jock' Davidson, who was shot dead in the Markets area of Belfast last Tuesday. Gerard 'Jock' Davidson, who was shot dead in the Markets area of Belfast last Tuesday.

The police investigation into the murder of Gerard 'Jock' Davison is "very challenging", the detective leading the probe has said.

The 47-year-old was shot five times shortly after he left his home in the Markets area of Belfast just after 9am last Tuesday.

One week on from the killing, uniformed and plain clothes officers will return the scene in Welsh Street this morning to try to identify more witnesses.

The gunman was described as around 5ft 6" tall and wearing a black hooded rain jacket.

Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway said officers have so far had a "positive response" from the Markets area and will speak to people again today.

He wants to talk to anyone who left the Markets between 9.09 and 9.15am last Tuesday, and anyone who parked in the area before walking to work elsewhere.

Officers will also talk to commuters at Central Station.

"These people are potential witnesses and it is important that they come forward and talk to us. We will be talking to people this morning, handing out leaflets and posters and garnering as much information as possible," he said.

“This is a very challenging investigation for a variety of reasons. We are continuing to follow a number of specific lines of enquiry and I anticipate this will be a lengthy investigation with its success depending on people coming forward and telling us what they know."

Three men, aged 27, 38 and 41, were arrested last week in connection with the murder of the former IRA commander but were all later released unconditionally.

Police have ruled out sectarian or dissident republican involvement.

Mr Galloway urged people with any information to come forward.

"The flow of information to the enquiry will determine which direction we take, the people we need to speak to, the doors we need to knock and any further arrests or searches we make. Our objective will always be to conduct a thorough, professional investigation," he said.