DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING THE murder of former IRA leader Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison say the investigation is proving ‘very challenging’.
The 47-year-old was shot a number of times as he walked along Welsh Street, in the Markets area of south Belfast a week ago today.
Uniformed and plain clothes offers have returned to the scene in Welsh Street this morning in a renewed effort to identify any possible witnesses.
Davison left his home in the Markets just after 9am last Tuesday, 5 May and was walking to work in a nearby community centre when he was shot five times. He died at the scene.
The gunman is reported to be approximately 5’6 and was wearing a black hooded waist-length rain jacket.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, from the Serious Crime Branch, said: “Officers have received a positive response while making enquiries in the Markets area. We will be speaking to people again today, particularly those travelling in the area.
“I have two specific appeals: I want to hear from anyone who left the Markets between 9.09 and 9.15am last Tuesday, from any route either on foot or in a vehicle, to contact detectives at Musgrave police station on the 101 number.
“I also want to hear from anyone who parked a vehicle in the Markets before walking to work somewhere else. These people are potential witnesses and it is important that they come forward and talk to us. We will be talking to people this morning, handing out leaflets and posters and garnering as much information as possible.
This is a very challenging investigation for a variety of reasons. We are continuing to follow a number of specific lines of enquiry and I anticipate this will be a lengthy investigation with its success depending on people coming forward and telling us what they know.
“Officers will also be speaking to commuters at Central Station. It is possible they may have seen someone or something of interest to our investigation and just aren’t aware of its significance because of the proximity of the train station to the Markets. We will be talking to them to ensure we collect all the information we possibly can.
“The incident room is still running at Musgrave police station. I would appeal to anyone with information to contact us on the non-emergency number 101 or, if they don’t want to give their details, they can use the independent charity Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.
I cannot emphasise too strongly how important it is for people who may have seen something last Tuesday or who may have information about the murder to come forward. To date, there have been three arrests.
“The flow of information to the enquiry will determine which direction we take, the people we need to speak to, the doors we need to knock and any further arrests or searches we make. Our objective will always be to conduct a thorough, professional investigation.”
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