Murdered loyalist 'aware he was under threat'

Former UDA brigadier John Boreland was aware he was under threat before he was gunned down in north Belfast on Sunday night, police have said.

It is believed he was fired at with a shotgun a number of times at close range as he got out of his car near his flat in Sunningdale Gardens in the Ballysillan area at around 9.50pm, a press conference heard on Monday.

He died at the scene from his injuries.

The 46-year-old father-of-three had survived a previous attempt to kill him two years ago - which was believed to have been part of an internal UDA feud.

Mr Boreland had been warned by police about his safety within the past few months.

They said it was too early to say what the motive was, but they believed it was not sectarian, adding the 2014 attack and other incidents involving tensions within loyalism were a “main line of enquiry” in the investigation.

“I have met today with his mum and dad, his fiancé, and his sister, he also leaves behind two sons and a daughter and they are all completely devastated at his death,” said DCI Justyn Galloway, who is leading the murder probe.

DCI Galloway made an appeal for information, firstly from anyone in the area at the time of the shooting and anyone who had been in Mr Boreland’s company in the lead up to his death.

They also appealed for the drivers of three vehicles in the area: a motorbike, a silver Renault Megane and a black Peugeot 307 to come forward.

The killing has prompted fears of an escalation of loyalist violence, and also speaking to press, Superintendent Paula Hilman appealed for calm and cooperation from those in the community.

“No one should take the law into their own hands,” she said.

“I would appeal to that community and those with influence to bear for good, within that community for calm, to work with us. It is our role, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to uphold law and order within the community.”