Killing 'not linked' to loyalist feud

Police search the scene after the murder

Relatives of a man shot dead in north Belfast have said the murder is not connected to a bitter loyalist paramilitary feud.

David Greer, 21, from Robena Court, was found with bullet wounds to his chest at Mountcollyer Avenue after reports of disturbances on Saturday at 2145 BST.

The Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to the UDA, has said Mr Greer was a member of the UDA.

And that he was shot by the Ulster Volunteer Force which has been involved in a feud with the rival UDA in the Shankill area of west Belfast.

David Greer: Shot dead on Saturday

However, Mr Greer's family believe he was not singled out for attack on Saturday night but was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They said he arrived at Mountcollyer Street as an argument among a group of his friends was breaking up.

His grandmother said someone had alerted the UVF to what was happening.

Speaking on Monday, Sarah Renwick said: "They were starting to break up and this car came up a street, turned the corner and just opened up.

"I think David was more or less closer to the car than anybody else.

"He was just unfortunate. I want to make an appeal for no reprisals over this - I have a grandson dead, I wouldn't wish it on anyone else."

Sarah Renwick: Appeal for no reprisals

Meanwhile, Mr Greer's mother has appealed for no paramilitary displays at his funeral on Wednesday.

On Sunday, John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, blamed the UVF for Mr Greer's murder.

He said: "There is no doubt this was an unprovoked attack by the UVF.

"They drew up in a car and murdered this man at will."

But although he said tensions were still high in north and west Belfast following feud violence in July and August, he believed the murder was not "directly" linked.

Billy Hutchinson: "I don't think anybody deliberately went to do this"

Three men have been killed and more than 200 families forced from their homes on the Shankill Road area of West Belfast during the feud.

He said: "I think indirectly it may be linked because of the hatred between the UDA and UVF."

However, Billy Hutchinson, assembly member for the Progressive Unionist Party which is linked to the UVF, said he did not believe the shooting was part of the feud which has centred on the Shankill area.

Speaking on Monday, he said it was too soon to come to any conclusions about the identity of the killers.

"My understanding is that there were a number of incidents on Friday night in which people were attacked and again the car was attacked and two shots were fired and someone was killed.

"It doesn't sound to me like somebody went out deliberately to do it," he said.

The UDP has called for talks following the murder.

Mr Hutchinson said he believed this could happen.

"Until all of the facts have been investigated and until everybody knows the facts and sits down and talks about it then it won't be sorted out but I think there is a will in north Belfast to sort this out by dialogue," he said.

The police said they did not believe the shooting was linked with the Shankill feud.

RUC Detective Chief Inspector Arnie McAllister said the police were investigating an incident in the area immediately prior to the killing.