Northern Ireland

Lawyers contact PONI following latest Donegan arrest

Jim Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast in December.
Jim Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast in December. Jim Donegan who was shot dead in west Belfast in December.

Lawyers representing a 32-year-old man arrested in connection with the gangland style killing of Jim Donegan have said they intend to take civil action against the PSNI.

Detectives investigating the shooting outside a school on the Glen Road on December 4 last year, arrested the man in the Springfield Road area of west Belfast on Tuesday.

He was held on suspicion of murder and suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation and was taken into custody at Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning by officers from the Major Investigation Team.

However, a lawyer representing the man say he was questioned for less than half an hour before being released unconditionally and have added they will now be making a complaint to the Police Ombudsman.

Mr Donegan, who was known to police and had associations with a number of high profile criminal gangs, was shot dead as he sat in his Porsche car as he waited to collect his 13-year-old son from St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School.

Last month detectives said the INLA was responsible for his murder. This has been rejected by the organisation's political wing, the IRSP.

None of the suspects arrested to date have any known associations with the INLA.

Following the release of 32-year-old man a spokesperson for KRW law said; "Our client was detained for four hours 19-minutes and has been released unconditionally.

"He was interviewed for 29-minutes and no evidence or allegation was put to him.

"He will be making a complaint to Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland and will further be issuing civil proceedings for wrongful arrest and unlawful detention."