'Strategies' in place to deal with loyalist feud - Chief Constable

The Chief Constable says the PSNI are doing everything they can to keep the public safe during the ongoing loyalist feud in Carrickfergus.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton
Published 2nd Jun 2017
Last updated 2nd Jun 2017

George Hamilton told Downtown and Cool FM that detectives are looking into one link between the violence in the town and the recent murder of Colin Horner in Bangor.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions but it is true to say there is a line of enquiry which takes us back into this feud which has been rumbling for a year now in south east Antrim"

It's believed Mr Horner had actually moved to Bangor from Carrickfergus amid fears for his life.

The 35-year-old was gunned down in a Sainsbury's car park in broad daylight on Sunday afternoon.

He was a friend of George Gilmore and carried the coffin at the prominent loyalist's funeral, after he was shot dead in the Co Antrim town in March of this year.

The Chief Constable says they have been upping their presence in the area as a result:

"I've got every confidence in Serious Crime Branch and the senior investigating officer.

"We have patrolling strategies and enforcement action and reassurance action around all of that.

"There's always more to be done, but we are doing our best to disrupt these feuding factions and to keep the communities of Carrickfergus and south east Antrim safe."