PSNI Say Moffett Murdered By UVF

The PSNI have said Bobby Moffett was murdered by "individuals linked to the UVF."

Mr Moffett, 43, a father of six, was shot dead by masked men on Belfast's Shankill Road last Friday.

Chief Inspector John McVea said police believed he had been "lured to his death" as part of a dispute involving those "linked to the UVF."

Nearly 2,000 mourners attended the funeral of the loyalist.

Many lined the streets outside the Moffett family home today.

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds and his DUP colleague Nelson McCausland were among those attending.

Mr Dodds said the people of the Shankill had sent out a very powerful message to the paramilitaries that the community wanted to move on.

He said he hoped the "sickening murder" would be a watershed in the history of the Shankill.

Earlier, Mr McVea, who is leading the hunt for Mr Moffett's killers, described his murder as "a public execution."

He said two masked gunmen had shot him three times with shotguns.

Police said they believe the killers came out of Conway Street and appealed for information about two vehicles - a silver blue Skoda Octavia and a light blue Audi A4 - which they believe may have been used by the gunmen.

Two similar vehicles have been seized by police during 31 searches since the killing.

Mr McVea said he believed the key to catching the killers lay with the people of the Shankill and said anyone who came forward would be offered the full protection of the law.

On Thursday, as hundreds attended a vigil for the dead man, police said they were investigating if the UVF leadership sanctioned the murder.

The loyalist paramilitary group has allegedly sent warnings to some people not to attend the funeral.

Text messages have been circulating telling people not to go to the funeral. It is not clear where the messages orginate.

The murder has also raised questions about the UVF's claim to have decommissioned all of its weapons.

There is speculation that Mr Moffett may have been involved in a fight with a member of the UVF, but this may have been a personal dispute.

On Thursday, at the vigil, the crowd gathered on the road where Mr Moffett was killed. His sister, Irene Moffett, said she does not know how her family will cope.

"With the strength of our whole family we will get through it together, and with the strength of the people that've been here, we will."

Tensions have been rising in the area since the shooting which has locally been blamed on the UVF. Mr Moffett's mother also blamed the paramilitary group.

On Wednesday evening Dawn Purvis stepped down as leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party in protest at Mr Moffett's murder.

Earlier this week Ms Purvis, who is a member of the Northern Assembly, had called for an end to intimidation in the Shankill area.

Speaking at the time as party leader, she said the party supported people's right to attend Mr Moffett's funeral without fear.

Commenting after the resignation, Sinn Féin Assembly member for South Belfast Alex Maskey said:  "I have worked alongside Dawn in bringing about improvements in working class areas in South and East Belfast for many years and I am saddened by her decision to leave the leadership of the PUP. Her resignation last night as PUP leader and as a party member in the wake of the Bobby Moffett murder will come as a blow to that party.

"Dawn Purvis would not have come to the decision lightly and I wish her well in her future role as an independent MLA.

"Throughout the development of the peace process both Dawn Purvis and her predecessor David Ervine have played positive roles. A vital component of the peace process has been its inclusive nature. It is important that loyalist working class communities continue to have a political voice."