A VIOLENT feud between rival members of migrant communities in a small Co Down fishing village is a major line of inquiry being followed by police investigating a murder.
PSNI officers are trying to establish the series of events that led to the shooting of a 36-year-old man from Lithuania in Kilkeel late on Saturday. He died early yesterday from injuries to his chest caused by a shotgun blast.
Three men, aged 26, 31 and 36, have been arrested in connection with the killing and the 36-year- old is also being treated for shotgun wounds to his leg in a Newry hospital. The two others are being held for questioning in the PSNI’s serious crimes centre in Antrim.
The PSNI established a wide cordon in the Rooney Road area of Kilkeel yesterday close to the busy fishing harbour. The extent of the restricted area pointed to its belief that the events leading to the fatal shooting encompassed a wide area.
It is thought the dispute began in the Hawood Way area when a group of people is understood to have attacked a house there on Saturday some time after 9pm.
The focus then shifted a short distance to the Rooney Road-Rooney Park area, just across the main Newcastle road, about an hour later. Up to 12 people and a number of cars turned up in the area and residents later reported noisy scenes. At least two shots were fired on the street some time after 10pm before the attackers made their escape.
Speaking at the scene, Det Chief Insp John McVea said: “The same group had arrived at that house [in Hawood Way] at approximately 9pm on Saturday evening. Nobody [was] in the house at that time and those who arrived entered the house and caused considerable damage to the house.
“We believe that they have gone from Hawood Way to Rooney Park. They have had a further incident and one person was fatally wounded as a result of receiving a gunshot wound to the chest area.”
Senior DUP figure Jim Wells, who owns a house in the area, said people were stunned by the killing.
“The shooting seems to have been the culmination of a series of chaotic events in the town over the course of Saturday evening.
It is understood that a feud among people from eastern Europe was at the centre of these events.
“The community is shocked that this feud, which was not of their making, spilled on to the streets of their town on such an important weekend in the Christian calendar. I unreservedly condemn those involved in all aspects of this feud.”
He added: “It is welcome that the PSNI is already making arrests and progressing the investigation. It is vital that those responsible for all murderous deeds on Saturday evening are convicted and removed from our streets.”
Local MP, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie, confirmed the level of shock locally at the incident.
“I offer my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family; how doubly tragic that this should happen on a day synonymous with family, friends and reflection,” she said.