Revenge murder victim Kevin McGuigan shot dead outside his home in east Belfast

POLICE are maintaining a constant presence in the Short Strand ahead of the funeral of IRA murder victim Kevin McGuigan.

They fear his diehard associates may try and avenge his cold-blooded killing by targeting senior IRA figures.

The father of nine and former Provo will be buried on Tuesday following lunchtime Requiem Mass at St Matthew’s Church in the Short Strand.

The 53-year-old shot was shot dead just before 9 pm last Wednesday night as he got out of his car in Comber Court in front of his wife Dolores.

Two masked killers – one armed with an assault rifle and the other with a handgun – fired a fusilade of rounds at him, hitting the grandfather in the head and back.

He later died in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Sinn Fein have denied that the IRA carried out the murder

But locals believe McGuigan was shot dead in revenge for the murder of IRA chief Jock Davison in May in the Markets.

And many are convinced that the IRA carried out the murder of McGuigan as a warning to others not to try and settle old scores with IRA leaders.

A republican source told Belfast Daily: “Does Sinn Fein really believe that criminals are going round murdering ex Provos and the IRA will not respond?

“Nobody believes for a minute that the IRA was not involved in McGuigan’s murder.”

A man and a woman arrested in the wake of the McGuigan murder were later released unconditionally.