Police think that a man shot dead in his bed by masked gunmen in Belfast may have been the victim of a personal dispute, writes Dan Keenan.
Mr David Patrick Barnes (39) was shot in the face at close range early on Saturday at his top-floor flat in Brookvale Avenue in the Antrim Road area of north Belfast. He was asleep with his girlfriend at the time. Detectives were unable to interview her after the murder as she was so distressed.
Another man who shared the flat was in a different bedroom at the time and he raised the alarm. However, Mr Barnes died at the scene.
The investigating senior officer, Det Supt Roy Suitters, said: "I'm not ruling anything in or out at this stage. I don't have anything to say it was sectarian or paramilitary. My belief was that it wasn't." He confirmed that the theory of a personal vendetta was being followed up.
The murderers broke down a door to gain access to the house. Two masked men then made their way to the top-floor flat and shot Mr Barnes in a bedroom.
Mr Suitters said there was evidence that the attack had been planned in advance: "It wasn't something that was spur of the moment," he said.
Police believe that the shooting may be linked to a previous incident when a window at the back of the house was smashed. The Brookvale Avenue area contains many traditional red-brick three-storey houses which have been converted into flats.
The local SDLP Assembly member, Mr Alban Maginness, condemned the killing. "I am shocked that once again we have another murder in north Belfast," he said.
"Everyone is wondering why there is such a spate of violence in this area."