The Five Demands

Ex-bomber held over city shooting (UTV)

A man, who received multiple life sentences for his role in the 1993 Shankill bomb, is being questioned over the shooting of a teenager in north Belfast, UTV understands.

A 39-year-old man arrested over the incident is believed to be Sean Kelly.

He remains in custody being questioned by police.

The victim, 18, was shot a number of times in the thigh and buttock on Tuesday at around 8.30pm in the Ardoyne Avenue area.

He was critically ill for a time, but his condition is now stable at the Royal Victoria Hospital in the city.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, particularly the movements of vehicles, around the Flax Centre off Ardoyne Avenue between 8-9pm on Tuesday night.

The shooting is not being treated as a paramilitary attack by police following enquiries.

Nine civilians and an IRA member died in the blast at a fishmongers on the Shankill Road in October 1993.

Two children were among the victims.

IRA man Sean Begley was killed when the bomb exploded prematurely – Kelly was found under the rubble with serious injuries.

Kelly received nine life sentences for the role he played in the bombing – but was released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

He was returned to prison five years later when his licence was revoked by the then Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain amid allegations the top republican had become re-involved in terrorism.

A political row was sparked over the move.

His release then came in July 2005 – the day before the IRA ordered an end to its armed campaign.

NI Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has the power to consider his early release licence.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: “The family of the man who has been shot has indicated the involvement of those associated with Sinn Fein in this attack.

“This connection raises potentially grave consequences for the process and we will want to meet with the Chief Constable to establish the background of this case and how the police are able to conclude that it is not paramilitary linked. We will be monitoring very closely the facts of this case as they arise and the Sinn Fein response to them,” the DUP leader said.