IRA linked to drugs murder

The victim was shot in a pub

By BBC Northern Ireland chief security correspondent, Brian Rowan

Senior security sources in Northern Ireland are now linking the IRA to the murder of a man shot dead in a pub outside Belfast, nine days ago.

The shooting at Dunmurry, County Antrim, happened 24 hours after the ruling Ulster Unionist Council voted by a narrow majority to return to government with Sinn Fein.

The victim, Ed McCoy, 28, was singled out in the Motte 'n' Bailey pub and was shot several times.

Soon afterwards, security sources said the shooting was "drugs related" but for days they stressed that it was too soon to say which paramilitary group, if any, was behind the attack. Nothing was being ruled out.

In the past 24 hours, senior security sources have told the BBC in Belfast that the police are now "very definite" in their assessment of who carried out this killing and the IRA is being blamed.

IRA unlikely to admit involvement

In the past, the IRA has carried out similar shootings under the cover name Direct Action Against Drugs.

It is unlikely that the IRA will admit to carrying out the murder nor would it consider such a shooting to be in breach of the "complete cessation of military operations" it restored in July 1997 after a breakdown in its first ceasefire.

As far as the IRA is concerned, that "cessation of military operations" covers attacks on the security forces, loyalists and so-called "economic targets".

Both the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and the Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson, are likely to come under pressure to make a statement on the murder.

It is understood the police assessment linking the IRA to the shooting of Ed McCoy is based on intelligence information.

There is also a suggestion coming from one security source that the IRA leadership has given clearance for attacks on alleged drug dealers.

In recent statements the IRA has stressed the "silence of it guns".

The security assessment of this recent murder is likely to lead to that statement being challenged and will once more bring the issue of decommissioning under the political spotlight.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office would not be drawn on the implications of the murder for its assessment of the IRA ceasefire.

"We understand that the investigation is still at an early stage. The RUC still have an open mind on the case."