The Loyalist Volunteer Force has claimed responsibility for shooting dead a man outside a nightclub in Belfast on Saturday night.

Gerry Adams pays tribute to his niece's husband (0'37")

Terry Enwright, 28, was the husband of the niece of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, who visited his grieving relatives.

Mr Adams said his relationship to Mr Enwright "should not be used as an excuse for killling him".

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams

Mr Enwright died on the way to hospital after being hit twice in the chest and stomach when shots were fired at the Space Night Club in Talbot Street, near the city centre, at about 0005GMT.

The LVF said in a statement that the killing was in response to the Irish National Liberation Army killing of LVF leader Billy Wright in the Maze Prison at Christmas.

He was the third Catholic to be killed in revenge for Mr Wright's death.

The first victim was shot and killed at the Glengannon Hotel, near Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Then, on New Year's Eve, a man was killed when gunmen opened fire on customers at the Clifton Tavern, Cliftonville Road, north Belfast.

Independent correspondent David McKittrick on the implications for the peace process (3'15")

The LVF statement called on the Irish government to drop articles two and three of its constitution which it said amounted to an illegal claim over Northern Ireland

Terry Enwright, who was from Upper Whiterock Road in west Belfast and had two children, was a community worker and also worked as a doorman at the nightclub.

Witnesses said the shooting happened as staff were admitting a group of people.

Terry Enwright with one of his two children

A car pulled up and a man inside wound down a window before opening fire with a handgun. A passenger got out and also shot at the men.

The nightclub is owned by a sister-in-law of Progressive Unionist Party leader, David Ervine.
 

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