Police name man shot dead at NI road block

Investigators from the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's office tonight named the man shot dead by police at a road block.

Investigators from the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman's office tonight named the man shot dead by police at a road block .

He was Steven Craig Colwell (23), from Main Street in the village of Cullybackey outside Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Five people arrested following the events have been released on bail, police confirmed earlier.

The three men and two women were detained when shots were fired at a car after attempts to stop it at a vehicle checkpoint in Ballynahinch, Co Down, yesterday.

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Northern Ireland police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's office was continuing to investigate the shooting today and has made appeals for any witnesses to the incident to contact them.

Police in Ballynahinch set up a roadblock outside their base after being informed the BMW was believed to be heading their way.

It is understood they were told the silver vehicle had been stolen.

The BMW, with six people on board, is believed to have travelled from Ballykinlar, about 12 miles away on the Co Down coast, and may have been heading for Belfast.

The main road to the city runs through the market town.

After the shots were fired, the body of one man was left lying close to the vehicle.

A priest who had been conducting Easter Sunday Mass in a nearby church gave the man the last rites.

There have been calls for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Sir Hugh Orde to suspend the officers involved in the shooting, but it was confirmed no action will be taken until the report of the ombudsman's office is received.

Eddie McGrady, the SDLP MP for the area, called for an inquiry into the police use of guns.

He said: "The fundamental fact remains that a police firearm was used, presumably in protection of life.

"This is the second such incident in a relatively short period in which firearms were used in a car pursuit. One would have to examine the rationale behind such use of potentially lethal force and the policy surrounding it.

"Obviously, a full inquiry is required immediately, and the officers involved should be relieved of their duties pending clarification of the incident and the code of conduct pertaining to use of lethal weapons."

Additional reporting: PA