`Serious crime' probe by RUC

A number of people were being questioned last night by the RUC in connection with "serious crime", including, it is understood…

A number of people were being questioned last night by the RUC in connection with "serious crime", including, it is understood, the murder earlier this month of a Catholic, Mr John Slane. No one has admitted the murder although loyalist paramilitaries are being blamed. Mr Slane was shot dead in the kitchen of his west Belfast house on March 14th.

The RUC is also investigating a suspected loyalist paramilitary "punishment" in east Belfast on Monday in which a 31-year-old man was shot in the leg.

In Dungannon, Co Tyrone, early yesterday 10 cars were damaged in an arson attack on Gormley's garage on the Ballygawley Road.

In another such attack late on Monday night, the kitchen of St Mary's primary school in Ballygowan, Co Down, suffered smoke damage.