Police have arrested six suspects over north Belfast murder of drug dealer Kevin Kearney

DETECTIVES have released a 22-year-old man who had been arrested in connection with the murder of Kevin Kearney in north Belfast.

The suspect was released unconditionally on Thursday by officers from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch.

A 34-year-old man also arrested on Wednesday remains in police custody.

The pair were also being questioned about threats made against a number of individuals by dissident republicans at a bar in the Ardoyne area on Monday, October 14.

Mr Kearney, 46, was shot dead in a lake at Alexandra Park last month.

He had gone missing the previous day after taking his dogs out for a walk.

The pets arrived home around 8.30 pm without their owner and the alert was raised.

A 33-year-old man was arrested by detectives investigating the murder on Monday but was later released unconditionally.

In total, six men have been arrested for questioning over the murder. No one has yet been charged.

The murder was later claimed by a group calling itself the ‘New IRA’.