Kieran McLaughlin to be charged with McCrory murder

A man arrested after a seven-day, cross-Border manhunt is due in court tomorrow charged with the murder of Barry McCrory in Derry.

Kieran McLaughlin will also face firearms charges when he appears at the city's Magistrates' Court in the morning.

The 58-year-old was detained during the early hours of yesterday morning after a six-hour arrest operation that spanned counties Derry and Donegal.

He was tracked down to a housing estate in the Galliagh area of Derry where he was found hiding behind a car.

Police said the suspect had been armed but that no shots were fired during the operation. Three guns - two handguns and a shotgun - were subsequently recovered.

Mr McCrory was shot by a lone gunman inside the flat he shared with his partner on Shipquay Street in Derry city centre.

She had been bundled into another room in the apartment as the gun attack was carried out.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had deployed an extra 100 officers to help in the hunt for McLaughlin on each day of the operation.

Specialist armed Garda units and members of the Irish Army were also involved in searches after he was seen driving a silver car across the border in Co Donegal.

His family had previously urged him to hand himself over to the authorities.

PSNI chief superintendent Stephen Martin said members of the community had played a "vital role" in the arrest operation.

He said McLaughlin was “swiftly” taken into custody when his location was eventually established.

A Taser stun gun was not deployed.

A PSNI spokesman said the charges may be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

PA