The scene of Tommy Crossan’s murder on the Springfield Road, west Belfast on Good Friday

THE funeral has taken place for murdered dissident republican and suspected police informant Tommy Crossan.

Around 40 people turned out for his funeral mass this morning at St John’s Catholic Church on the Falls Road.

Five masked men, wearing glasses and hats, formed a guard of honour for Crossan’s coffin in Cavenish Street.

The 43-year-old was gunned down last Good Friday around 5 pm as he sat in a portable cabin at the rear of the former Peter Pan bakery on the Springfield Road.

Three men approached him and a gunman fired two shots into his head and several into his body.

The hit team fled in a red BMW car which was found burned out not far away in the Beechmount area of west Belfast.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in west Belfast on Saturday morning over the murder.

He has been taken to the serious crime suite in Antrim for questioning.

Following two days of questioning, the suspect was released without charge.

Crossan, who had served a number of prison sentences for dissident republican activity, had in the past been accused of working for the PSNI and RUC Special Branch. He denied the claims.

He had also been living under the shadow of death threats for many years following a series of splits inside the Continuity IRA in Belfast.

CIRA leaders in the Republic had accused him of carrying out robberies for his own self gain and that of a criminal gang.

The murder of Crossan has been widely condemned.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “Nothing that is claimed by the criminals can justify this murder.”

Detectives are now investigating who shot Crossan and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 101.