The PSNI chief constable notified the Police Ombudsman about issues relating to the handling of information before the murder of Jim ‘JD’Donegan, it has emerged.
Mr Donegan (43) was shot dead outside St Mary's Grammar School on the Glen Road on December 4 as he sat in his Porsche waiting to collect his 13-year-old son.
The Police Ombudsman confirmed this week that it had launched an investigation into how the PSNI dealt with information about a potential threat to Mr Donegan.
It has now emerged that PSNI chief constable George Hamilton notified the Police Ombudsman’s Office "of issues relating to the handling of information prior to the murder of Mr Donegan".
In a statement issued this week a spokeswoman for the ombudsman said: "The Police Ombudsman has commenced an investigation into how the PSNI dealt with information about a potential threat to James Donegan, received by police prior to his murder.
"The Police Ombudsman's Office is now investigating whether this information was properly processed and actioned by police."
The spokeswoman added that Mr Donegan’s family had been informed about their investigation.
Meanwhile, a 63-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Donegan has been released without charge.
Detectives arrested the man on Thursday in relation to the wider investigation into the killing. He was later released unconditionally.
