Murder victim Kevin Conway

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team, who are carrying out a murder investigation after a man was shot in west Belfast, have named the deceased as Kevin Conway.

Mr Conway was murdered in his home in the Greenan area of the city on Tuesday night, 9 January.

The 26-year-old, who is originally from Lurgan, was awaiting trial over the gangland murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan in 2023.

Mr Whitla, a 39-year-old father of four, was gunned down in an alleyway off Woodville Street over an alleged drug debt to a notorious crime gang known as ‘The Firm’.

It was alleged in court last July that Mr Conway set the victim up in phone calls which lured him to the scene of the shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness of MIT said: “My thoughts are with Mr Conway’s family, who are left trying to come to terms with their loss.”

Detective Chief Inspector McGuinness is appealing to anyone with information to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference 1714 09/01/2024.

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org