POLICE have released without charge a leading dissident republican who was questioned in connection with the killing of north Belfast man Kevin Kearney.
Harry Fitzsimmons, who got out of prison in May after being jailed for the 2004 abduction of high-profile republican Bobby Tohill, was arrested at his home on Monday and released unconditionally yesterday.
Yesterday police revisited the scene of Kearney's murder a week after he was gunned down in an attack admitted by dissident republican group the 'new' IRA which accused him of being a drug dealer.
The body of Kearney, pictured, was found in a pond in Alexandra Park a day after he went missing while walking his dogs.
Speaking for the first time his older brother said the killing had ripped the family apart and revealed that concerned family members had searched for the missing 46-year-old before contacting police.
"These people have just destroyed a whole family," Martin Kearney said.
Mr Kearney said his brother spent every hour he could with his four children, some of whom are receiving grief counselling.
Kevin Kearney lived in Dunmore Avenue, within sight of the park where he was killed, and was known to police for previous offending.
The detective leading the murder hunt has said a possible drugs link is being investigated as a possible motive.
His brother said the men responsible were "lower than animals" and there was no justification for vigilante justice.
"Kevin wasn't an angel but for all the faults of the British justice system it is a better system to be brought through the courts (and) have a fair trial than to have someone step out of a bush and execute you," he added.
He urged the republican community to come forward with information.
"If they can't talk to the police about it, talk to Sinn Fein about it and have these evil people brought before the courts," he said.
"They have left four children without a father and they are just demons.
"They are not fit to be in society."
On Sunday night an armed and masked gang read a statement in a north Belfast bar in which they ordered two named men to leave the country and threatened a close member of Kevin Kearney's family.
Mr Kearney said the threats did not warrant comment and claimed his brother had never expressed any concerns about his safety.
"Kevin was fun loving, happy and loved sports. He was very athletic and would have run over 100 miles-a-week. He loved training; loved his children and loved his animals. He loved life. He was happy-go-lucky."
Mr Kearney spoke as the PSNI returned to the scene in a bid to jog people's memories.
An actor dressed in dark tracksuit bottoms, a dark jacket with the hood pulled up over a baseball cap and with blue trainers walked Mr Kearney's two dogs, Dolly and Shadow, along the same winding path through the park to the spot where it is believed he was shot.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway said he believed criminal elements linked to dissident republicans were responsible for the gun attack and urged people to come forward with information.
"Did anyone see Mr Kearney in Alexandra Park last tuesday morning between 8.45am and 9.15am with his dogs?" Mr Galloway asked.
"We know that people were in the park and I would make a specific appeal to people running in the park."
Police have also seized a burnt-out silver Peugeot 406 car, registration number GNZ 8168.
? GRIEF: Martin Kearney talks about his brother Kevin yesterday
PICTURE: Paul Faith/
PA
? RECONSTRUCTION: Kevin Kearney's partner Charlene Whelan with his dogs as an actor resembling Kearney takes part in a reconstruction, walking the murder victim's two dogs Dolly and Shadow along the same winding path through Alexandra Park in north Belfast, below, to the spot where it is believed he was shot dead
PICTURES: Hugh Russell