Homes raided in quest for evidence

The shoes will undergo genetic tests

Police in Northern Ireland have raided four homes in County Armagh in the pursuit of genetic evidence about an 11-year-old IRA murder.

A forensic identification specialist is helping detectives trace the killers of Protestant businessman, Roy Metcalfe, who was shot dead in October 1989.

He was killed in front of his wife and teenage daughter as they watched television at the family home at Drumnabreeze Road, Magheralin.

The IRA claimed Mr Metcalfe, the owner of an army surplus store, was linked to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

However, this allegation was denied by the dead man's family.

On Thursday shoes were seized in searches of four houses in the republican Kilwilkee estate in Lurgan, County Armagh.

Boots found at scene

The RUC said they are to be examined by an expert in foot morphology.

They will also undergo DNA tests as well as examination for structure and shape.

The police said they believed advances in DNA testing and scientific techniques would allow them to look more closely at the evidence.

Boots recovered at the time of the killing have already been forensically linked to the shooting.

An RUC spokesman confirmed there were disturbances and two men - not connected with the murder investigation - were arrested during the raids.

The police have denied Sinn Fein claims of heavy handedness during the operation.

An RUC spokesman said no baton rounds were fired and the army was not directly involved in the operation.