Two men being questioned in connection with the shooting of the IRA informer, Mr Martin McGartland, were last night released without charge, a police spokesman said. A 32-year-old man from Belfast and a 33-year-old man from Glasgow were arrested on Tuesday following a joint operation by the RUC, Northumbria police and Strathclyde police.
Mr McGartland (29) suffered six gunshot wounds in an attack at his home in Duchess Street in the Tyneside seaside resort of Whitley Bay in June. After spending several weeks in hospital, recovering from gunshot wounds, he is again living at a secret location.
A Northumbria police spokes woman said: "Two men being interviewed by police in connection with the shooting of Martin McGartland were this evening released without charge on police bail pending further inquiries."