A drugs dealer at the centre of a major financial investigation was stabbed to death at house in Coleraine, Co Derry, yesterday.
Paddy Fleming (40) was known as a ruthless and wealthy crime boss. Detectives launched a murder investigation after he died in hospital and arrested a 25-year-old man for questioning.
Fleming, who hid his involvement in drugs behind a horse trading business, was being probed by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA).
Despite being a Catholic, he had no qualms about dealing with loyalist paramilitaries as he developed his underworld enterprise.
"Paddy was well known around Coleraine, driving the 4x4 and all the flash jewellery," according to one of those who studied him closely.
"He was prepared to do business with anyone, even the UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force], if there was money in it." But Fleming, a father of two, began to lose his grip when his luxury five-bedroom house, set on 10 acres of land, was seized 18 months ago.
The agency also took control of stables, 15 horses and an equestrian arena in December 2004.
During searches of his home and an apartment he owned in the town, £36,000 (€52,700) in cash was discovered. Examinations found the money was contaminated by traces of ecstasy and cannabis.
Nearly £500,000 worth of assets were frozen in total during an inquiry led by ARA's assistant director Alan McQuillan.
The agency was alerted to the case after police discovered a knife and chopping board smeared with drugs at one of Fleming's properties.
Sources in Coleraine blamed dealers like him for inflicting major damage on the town. "There has been plenty of violence around here related to drugs," one said.
"Some of the pipe bombs that were used in the dying days of those type of attacks had more to do with drugs than sectarianism."
The killing also raised fears of further violence in the area, with one Assembly member urging the public to aid the investigation.
John Dallat, the SDLP East Derry MLA, said: "This murder leaves behind a widow and two young children and must be condemned.
"The police response has been swift and detailed. I hope that they will receive all the co-operation they need, not only to solve this murder, but to eliminate any possibility of a night time culture of violence of this type developing in Coleraine."Meanwhile, two men were being questioned tonight about a separate stabbing in Lisburn, Co Antrim. They were arrested after a man was stabbed in the Bridge Street area of the town. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.- (PA)