Northern Ireland

Police appeal for information in Sean Fox murder revealing he was shot in front of around 100 people

A funeral for murder victim Sean Fox will take place next week
A funeral for murder victim Sean Fox will take place next week A funeral for murder victim Sean Fox will take place next week

PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne has said foot patrols have been stepped up in west Belfast after the murder of Sean Fox last weekend.

Mr Fox (42) was gunned down as he sat in Donegal Celtic social club in west Belfast last Sunday.

His Requiem Mass is due to take place at Christ the Redeemer Church in Lagmore, on the outskirts of west Belfast, next Tuesday.

The Premiere League Manchester derby was being shown at the time of the murder and around 100 people are believed to have been in the popular venue.

Police say more than 20 bullets were fired at the victim during the attack, which lasted around 21 seconds.

It has also been confirmed both gunmen opened fire and stood over the helpless victim as he fell to the floor.

Speaking at a meeting of the Policing Board yesterday Mr Byrne said the murder was "completely unusual given the large number of people who were put at risk".

The PSNIs most senior officer added: "We are keen for co-operation in relation to this".

"Someone must have some indication about who did what when," he said.

"My appeal is if you know who has done this step forward."

Mr Byrne added that "every line of inquiry" was open.

Earlier this week police described the murder as a "calculated, planned ruthless execution".

CCTV footage released by the PSNI showed two masked and hooded men walking into the social club before shooting the father-of-two dead.

The pair are then seen running from the venue in the direction of Suffolk Road.

Mr Fox was a close associate of murdered drugs boss Jim 'JD' Donegan who was shot dead as he sat in his car on the Glen Road in west Belfast in December 2018.

Police later said they believed the INLA and Óglaigh na hÉireann were involved in the shooting.

Neither group has claimed responsibility.

Earlier this week the Irish News revealed that Mr Fox had raised concerns about his safety with Community Restorative Justice (CRJ) twice in the past 18 months.

The organisation helps mediate on behalf of people under paramilitary threat.

It is understood he approached CRJ over fears that he had been identified as being linked to the drugs trade.

It is believed that he asked CRJ not to contact any armed groups on his behalf.

Mr Fox ran a car sales business it is claimed provided finance to those with no credit rating.

A £20,000 reward has been offered for information about the murder.