Man arrested over Moffett murder

A 41-year-old man has been arrested by detectives in Northern Ireland in connection with a loyalist murder in Belfast.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested by detectives in Northern Ireland in connection with a loyalist murder in Belfast.

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was blamed after Bobby Moffett was shot dead on the Shankill Road in May last year.

The suspect was detained in west Belfast earlier today and has been taken to Antrim Police station for questioning.

Moffett (43) was a member of the UVF-allied Red Hand Commandos. He was shot by two masked gunmen.

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A number of people have been arrested over his death but no-one has been charged. The International Monitoring Commission said the killing was sanctioned by the UVF.

His murder caused political ramifications by forcing the resignation of the then Progressive Unionist Party leader Dawn Purvis.

She was the party’s sole representative in the Northern Ireland assembly but said she could no longer “defend the indefensible”.

The UVF has carried out acts of decommissioning but the killing raised fresh questions about that process.

PA