Once again, north Belfast has been witness to appalling bloodshed with the horrific murder of a well known loyalist raising fears of further violence.
UDA member John Boreland was shot dead in Sunningdale Gardens in the Ballysillan area at around 9.50pm on Sunday.
This was a vicious, cold-blooded crime, carried out by ruthless killers who showed no mercy.
Boreland was a prominent paramilitary figure, a close associate of Andre Shoukri who had been shot and wounded two years ago by rival loyalists.
However, regardless of his background and activities, the murder of this man was completely unjustified and must be firmly condemned.
At this early stage, the signs are that this killing was the result of loyalist infighting.
The PSNI revealed the victim had been under threat and their main lines of inquiry were focused on `tensions within loyalist groupings.'
Clearly, this will raise questions about the commitment of loyalist paramilitaries to peaceful means.
It will be recalled that last October, in an initiative fronted by former Downing Street official Jonathan Powell, the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando pledged to ``eschew all violence and criminality.''
As this investigation continues it is important the police provide a detailed assessment of whichever faction or grouping they believe is responsible for this murder.
Crucially, we need to see urgent progress in bringing the perpetrators to justice and an end to paramilitary violence on our streets.
