A Co Armagh man accused of luring another man to his “execution” last year was shot multiple times during a similar gun attack in west Belfast on Tuesday night.
Kevin Conway (26) was shot dead in his home in the Greenan area of west Belfast, almost a year to the day that Shane Whitla was murdered in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
Mr Conway, who is originally from the Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan, was one of three men charged in relation to the Whitla murder, which took place in an alleyway off Woodville Street on January 12 last year, and was alleged to have lured the victim to his “execution”.
Prosecutors have claimed Whitla was killed over a suspected drug debt to a notorious Lurgan-based crime gang known as The Firm.
PSNI Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said he was targeted at around 9.30pm.
“Kevin, who was a father, a son and a brother, was brutally murdered in his own home,” she said.
“He was shot multiple times and sadly was pronounced dead at the scene.
“My thoughts are with Kevin’s family and his loved ones, who are today left trying to come to terms with their loss as I know the wider community also remains in shock.
“This is a horrific, calculated and ruthless murder carried out in a busy residential area. Such cold-blooded brutality has absolutely no place in our society.”
DI Quinn appealed for anyone who was in the Greenan area from 4pm yesterday and who noticed anything suspicious and anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage to contact police.
She added: “I understand that people are feeling afraid but we can all agree those responsible for this shocking murder have no place in our society. The streets will be safer when they are behind bars.”
Sources in Co Armagh say Mr Conway was a prominent figure in the ruthless cross-community narco-gang.
His father, also called Kevin (30), was also shot dead in 1998.
Although never claimed, the killing has been linked to the IRA.
Mr Conway was granted bail for a second time in relation to the Whitla murder last July after he had earlier absconded from police.
Originally bailed on February 20 last year, he was placed under conditions which included a prohibition on accessing the internet.
However, five days later, a relative of Mr Whitla suspected the defendant was online using Facebook messenger.
Screenshot images were forwarded to police who then called at Conway’s bail address in Newry to investigate the potential breach.
He was arrested at the property for the alleged violation but allowed to retrieve a packet of cigarettes and have a smoke at the front door, a court was later told.
He then ran off in just his socks, chased by police officers who were unable to capture him.
Conway handed himself in at a PSNI station two days later and his bail was revoked.
A district judge later granted a second application for bail, a decision appealed by the Public Prosecution Service.
At the time a crown lawyer argued there could be no confidence in Conway abiding by the conditions of his release.
Concerns were also expressed that the defendant could be targeted in a possible reprisal attack.
“There are high tensions in the Lurgan area,” he said.
“The suggestion is that this was an organised criminal gang, and there is an ongoing feud regarding drug debts.”
Mr Conway was killed a short distance from where Sean Fox, who is believed to have had links to the drugs trade, was shot dead at the Donegal Celtic FC social on Suffolk Road in October 2022.
His killers are also believed to have shot dead Mark Hall in west Belfast in December 2021.
It’s not known if the incidents are linked.
In 2018 a Portadown man was acquitted of involvement in the death of Mr Conway’s father.
He disappeared from his Deeny Drive home in Lurgan in February 1998.
It is understood he was last seen by his wife who left him to care for their three-month old child.
His remains were later found at a derelict house at Rock Lane in Aghalee with a single gunshot to the head.
