Man arrested over Kevin McGuigan murder is released unconditionally by police

A 47-year-old man arrested yesterday in Belfast city centre over the murder of Kevin McGuigan two weeks ago has been now been released.

Ex-republican prisoner Mark McDowell, from the Short Strand district of east Belfast, was arrested in the back of a taxi by heavily armed members of the PSNI’s Tactical Support Group.

He had been staying in Dundalk and the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team had been liaising with Garda detectives about him.

However, McDowell, who was released under the Good Friday Agremeent, came back across the border yesterday morning.

Following his arrest, he was taken to the serious crime suite in Antrim police station for questioning.

This afternoon, the PSNI said he had now been released unconditionally.

Mr McGuigan Sr was shot at his home in Comber Court in the Short Strand, east Belfast, earlier this month.

PSNI chief constable George Hamilton said on Saturday that some Provisional IRA members were involved in the murder of Mr McGuigan Sr.

But he said that at this stage there was no evidence that the killing was sanctioned by the organisation.

Ten other people have been arrested in connection with Mr McGuigan Sr’s murder.

One of them, card-carrying Sinn Fein member Patrick Fitzpatrick, 53, of Lagmore area of west Belfast, was remanded in custody last week for having a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Police claim he was found with a Glock pistol and a holster and alleged he had the gun for his own protection.