DETECTIVES ARE CONTINUING to investigate the murder of prominent loyalist John Boreland, who was shot in north Belfast.
Police returned to the scene this evening exactly a week after the shooting, and stopped cars in the area of Sunningdale Gardens, spoke to motorists and pedestrians and renewed house-to-house enquiries in an effort to gather more information.
Boreland (46) was shot a number of times as he got out of his car to walk to his flat in Sunningdale Gardens just before 9.50pm on Sunday 7 August. He died at the scene.
Vehicles
Earlier this week detectives appealed for information about three vehicles in the area at the time of the shooting – a silver Renault Megane car, a black Peugeot 307 car and a motorbike.
As a result of enquiries police are no longer interested in the motorbike. However, officers have recovered a silver Renault Megane, which was found partially burnt out at the entrance to the old quarry on Wheelers Road, Lisburn on Tuesday morning.
It is currently undergoing forensic examination.
Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, from Serious Crime Branch, said:
We believe the silver Megane travelled along Sunningdale Gardens towards Ballysillan Road. We are appealing to anyone who saw this silver car last Sunday night and between last Sunday and Tuesday when it was recovered partially burnt out.
We also want to hear from anyone who saw the car over recent days and weeks – who was in it, where it was being driven or parked. This is a key line of enquiry at this stage in the investigation.
The registration number is GJZ 4870 and we have issued two photographs of a similar vehicle to assist in our appeal.
Police are also still interested in the movements of a black Peugeot 307 car which was travelling along Sunningdale Gardens in the direction of Sunningdale Park.
They want to speak to anyone who may have seen this car in the Ballysillan area and are very keen to trace the driver of this vehicle so they can be eliminated from the enquiry.
We are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the Sunningdale Gardens area around 9.50pm last Sunday who saw or heard the shooting or anything suspicious.
One person has been arrested and a number of searches of properties and locations have also been conducted.
The shotgun used in the murder has not been recovered.
“Police are following a number of lines of enquiry in relation to this murder. Tensions within loyalist paramilitarism and criminality remain active lines of enquiry but they are not the only ones,” said Galloway.
“It is important that people with information about what happened last Sunday night or who have information about Mr Boreland come forward and give that information to police.”
Detectives also want to talk to anyone who can assist with completing a picture of Boreland’s movements in the 24 hours leading up to his death.
We know he was in a bar on the Oldpark Road until shortly before he was shot. We want to talk to anyone who was in his company there or saw or spoke to him after he left.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Musgrave police station on the Northern Irish non-emergency number 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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