Five held over journalist murder

Martin O'Hagan was shot dead while walking home with his wife

Four men and a woman have been arrested by police investigating the murder of Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan in Lurgan seven years ago.

The arrests took place on Tuesday in Lurgan and Banbridge. A number of searches were also carried out.

Detectives from the retrospective murder review unit of the PSNI were involved in the operation.

Mr O'Hagan, 51, was shot dead as he walked home from a pub with his wife in September 2001.

At the time, the murder was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by both the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.

Mr O'Hagan had built a reputation for paramilitary and drug-dealing stories.

Police have reissued an appeal for information about the murder and want anyone who can help to contact the retrospective murder review unit.