Northern Ireland

Man (41) arrested in connection with firing of shots at Martin McElkerney's wake

 A masked man fired an automatic weapon outside the home of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney (right) ahead of his funeral
 A masked man fired an automatic weapon outside the home of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney (right) ahead of his funeral  A masked man fired an automatic weapon outside the home of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney (right) ahead of his funeral

A 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the firing of shots at the wake of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney.

The man has been detained under the Terrorism Act and on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation. 

A 40-year-old arrested yesterday under the Terrorism Act was today released unconditionally.

Shots were fired outside Mr Elkerney's home in the Divis area of west Belfast on May 20.

Several masked men formed a 'guard of honour' with one firing an automatic rifle in front of several hundred people. The same gun was previously used by the INLA in a staged show of strength for a BBC documentary by broadcaster Stacey Dooley.

Detective Inspector Carol Dane has described the scene at Ross Street as "not only shocking and reckless, but also a criminal act, which was carried out by those who seek to control communities through fear of violence".

Mr McElkerney was found critically injured in Milltown Cemetery and died in hospital.

Read more:

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  • Masked men flank coffin at funeral of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney