Dissident republican murder victim James McConnell

A 48-year-old man arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the murder of a Derry man in the city over four years ago has been released on police bail.

The man, who was detained in Limavady, was questioned about withholding information about the killing of Jim McConnell.

He was shot dead by two masked men at his Woodland Avenue, Prehen, in the Waterside area on February 9, 2009.

The 38-year-old was believed to have been shot dead by dissident republicans.

The dead man had been released from prison the previous autumn after serving 18 months of a three-year sentence for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Last month, a 23-year-old suspect was detained in Limavady during a planned operation.

He was taken to the Serious Crime Suite in Antrim for questioning about the cold-blooded execution of Jim McConnell.

The suspect was released the following day.

Police believe the murder was carried out by dissident republican group Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD).

It was a self-styled vigilante group made up of former members of the Provisional IRA who vowed to clean up the city of drug dealers.

RAAD last year joined forces with the Real IRA to form a group styling itself as the ‘New IRA’.

In July, a 48-year-old man was detained in Dungiven for questioning about the murder under the Terrorism Act.

He was also questioned about a shooting incident in Feeny in 2004 when a shotgun was fired at a house.

The arrested man was later released on bail pending the outcome of forensic tests on a number of items seized during two separate searches conducted in the Dungiven area.