Northern Ireland

Two men arrested in relation to Donegan murder released

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

TWO men arrested in connection with the murder of Jim Donegan outside a west Belfast school have been released unconditionally.

The men, aged 53 and 39, had been arrested on Friday under the Terrorism Act.

The 43-year-old father-of-two was shot dead as he waited to collect his 13-year-old son from St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School on the Glen Road last December.

Detectives said the same killer had been waiting for his victim at the scene five days earlier, but Mr Donegan did not pick up his son that day.

People arrested under terrorism laws must be charged, released pending report to the Public Prosecution Service or released unconditionally. Bail is not permitted under this Act.

Investigators have linked the killing to the INLA.

Mr Donegan was shot eight times with a semi-automatic handgun on December 4 as children were leaving school.