Punishment victim Edward Gibson died from gunshot wounds following an OIRA attack

DETECTIVES have charged a 30-year-old man with making threats to kill and disorderly behaviour following the Official IRA (OIRA) murder of a petty criminal in west Belfast at the weekend.

He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court this morning for a first remand hearing.

The charges are connected to an incident at the Royal Victoria Hospital after the OIRA – or ‘The Stickies’ – shooting occurred when doctors were trying to safe the life of gunshot victim Edward Gibson.

Gibson was shot in his stomach and thigh in an alleyway beside Divis Tower on Friday and died in hospital.

His killers alleged he had raped a woman, a claim rejected by his family and friends.

The 30-year-old man received hospital treatment for stab wounds.

A 57-year-old man who was arrested in the west of the city on Monday is still being questioned by police.

Two others, a 31-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, arrested shortly after the attack were released on Sunday pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

Police said they did not believe dissident republicans were involved in the attack, but have not ruled out a punishment-style attack.

The Workers’ Party – the political wing of the OIRA – have yet to make any comment on the murder.