Police launch murder inquiry

Police sealed off the area outside the house

A murder investigation has begun after a father-of-six was shot dead in west Belfast.

Dissident republicans are being blamed for the killing of Daniel McGurk, 35, at his home in the nationalist lower Falls area.

Police say the shooting in Ross Road was reported to them at about 1115 BST on Sunday.

Residents say Mr McGurk was shot several times after he opened the door to the gunmen.

Neighbours say his wife and some of his children were at home at the time of the shooting.

Mr McGurk who was hit in the chest, thigh and ankle was taken to the nearby Royal Victoria Hospital, where he died.

It is not known how many gunmen were involved.

SDLP councillor Margaret Walsh said she had been told the man was threatened by dissident republicans last week.

Sinn Fein councillor Fra McCann said there could be "no possible excuse or justification" for the killing.

Detectives at Grosvenor Road have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact them.