Two men from Carrickfergus, County Antrim, have been arrested in connection with the death of Gavin Brett. The 18-year-old Protestant was shot dead on Sunday as he stood with a group of friends in Glengormley, on the outskirts of Belfast.
The Red Hand Defenders, a Loyalist group believed to be a cover name for the UDA and LVF, have claimed responsibility for the murder of Mr Brett. He had been standing with a group of Catholic friends near the entrance to a GAA club at Hightown Road in the village. Police believe that he was shot in the belief that he was also a Catholic.
In a separate development, Loyalist paramilitaries are being blamed for leaving a substantial amount of deadly home-made explosives in a recreational area of North Belfast. RUC officers discovered five primed pipebombs and a coffee jar device in the Loyalist Ballysillan area. A total of 300 rounds of assorted ammunition were also found during a search of Ballysillan Playing Fields.
