Gunmen who shot dead a man in Belfast city centre had difficulty fleeing the scene of the attack, police in Northern Ireland said today.
The 38-year-old Catholic father-of-four Paul Patrick Daly from Laurelgrove Dale in the Knockbracken area was gunned down yesterday in his family car while visiting relatives with his wife.
Mr Daly was inside his car at the junction of Stephen Street and Library Street yesterday afternoon when a gunman approached the vehicle and opened fire.
The victim was a known drug dealer but police have refused to rule out a sectarian motive.
Detectives investigating the murder said the victim was trying to get out of the car when he was shot.
The gunman and an accomplice made off on foot towards Upper Library Street and Carrick Hill. However, the RUC believes the attackers had difficulty crossing the road.
When they did, they made off in a grey Nissan Sunny in Tyrone Street with the registration number SXI 5036 with a third man driving.
The car was later abandoned in Hopewell Avenue, with attempts made to destroy it.
Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast Alan McQuillan described the incident as "terrible". He said police were "keeping an open mind as to a motive."
The RUC also urged people who were in the area when the gun attack occurred or who may have seen the attackers as they struggled to make their getaway to help their investigation.
They are also anxious to trace the movements of the attackers' car immediately before and after the shooting and in the days prior to the murder.
PA