A MURDER probe has been launched after a man was shot dead at a social club in west Belfast today.
Two masked gunmen entered the premises before shooting the victim, in his 40s, and making off on foot.
He had arrived to watch the Manchester derby before being targeted in the brazen attack around 2.30pm at the Donegal Celtic FC Social Club just off the Suffolk Road.
Two ambulances raced to the scene but it was too late.
The Charity Air Ambulance had also been tasked to the incident.
One source said that the victim had been shot in the head up to nine times.
The Irish Sun understands the man was a former player with the team.
The victim is believed to come from a large republican family from the area.
Early suggestions have claimed a drugs link to the attack believed to have been carried out by dissident republicans.
One local said it had been “like a professional hit” with the victim having no chance to defend himself.
We were told that he had a close relative who was beaten to death in the same area 12 years ago.
The local said: "It’s been a tough time for this family."
The victim is understood to have had close connections to drug dealer Jim Donegan, who was shot dead by dissidents on west Belfast's Glen Road in December 2018.
He had been waiting to pick up his 13-year-old son at the time of the attack outside St Mary's Grammar.
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The PSNI said: "Police are currently at the scene of a shooting incident in the Suffolk Road area of West Belfast this afternoon, Sunday, October 2.
“Part of Suffolk Road is closed and a number of diversions are in place."
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