Northern Ireland police launch murder probe after two masked gunmen shot dead a man watching football in packed Belfast social club before fleeing on foot – as local MPs condemn 'totally shocking' killing

  • A man has been shot dead after a shooting at Donegal Celtic FC social club 
  • Police in Northern Ireland attended the shooting incident in West Belfast 
  • It happened as the club was busy with people watching a football match on TV 
  • Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and an air ambulance attended the scene  

Northern Ireland Police have launched a murder probe after two masked gunmen shot a man dead while he was watching football in a packed social club in Belfast before they fled on foot – as local MPs condemned the 'totally shocking' killing. 

The victim was shot 'a number of times' by two masked gunmen who reportedly walked into Donegal Celtic Social club before escaping on foot.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) attended the scene at Suffolk Road on Sunday afternoon.

The club was busy with customers watching a football match on TV when the shooting took place. 

Police have now launched a murder investigation and forensic officers have been at the scene.   

A man was shot dead at Donegal Celtic Social club on Suffolk Road in Belfast this afternoon

A man was shot dead at Donegal Celtic Social club on Suffolk Road in Belfast this afternoon

Police have now launched a murder investigation and forensic officers have been at the scene

Police have now launched a murder investigation and forensic officers have been at the scene

Ambulances at the scene of a shooting at the clubhouse of Donegal Celtic Football Club, in west Belfast on Sunday

Ambulances at the scene of a shooting at the clubhouse of Donegal Celtic Football Club, in west Belfast

Two ambulances were parked within the grounds while a PSNI helicopter monitored the scene from above.

Belfast Live has reported that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received an emergency call at approximately 2.45pm following reports of a shooting.

Two emergency crews were sent to the incident as well as a charity air ambulance with crew on board.

A NIAS spokesperson told Belfast Live: 'Following assessment and initial treatment, no patients were taken from the scene.' 

Northern Ireland Police have launched a murder probe after two masked gunmen shot a man dead while he was watching football

Northern Ireland Police have launched a murder probe after two masked gunmen shot a man dead while he was watching football

Police in West Belfast made a statement on Twitter that said officers were attending the scene of a shooting incident in the Suffolk Road area

Police in West Belfast made a statement on Twitter that said officers were attending the scene of a shooting incident in the Suffolk Road area

Sinn Fein MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey visited the scene and said: 'There is shock in the local community after a serious shooting incident at a west Belfast club.

'My thoughts and sympathies are with this man's family.

'I personally don't know the victim but what I do know is that there's a family there and our thoughts and our sympathies are with this man's family at this stage.

'There is a family there and obviously they're grieving at this particular stage and obviously they'll be looking for assistance from the community as well.

'But there's shock within this community and people are sending their condolences to this man's family.'

Mr Maskey urged anyone with information to come forward to police.

'I condemn those responsible. There is no place for guns on our streets,' he said.

'Anyone with information on this shooting should immediately bring it forward to the police.'

SDLP councillor for the area Brian Heading said: 'My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased who will have been left devastated in the wake of this senseless attack and the loss of their loved one. 

'This incident has cast a dark cloud over the entire area. People in this community want to be able to live their lives in peace and this shooting in broad daylight in a busy establishment must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all. 

'People are rightly concerned at the presence of gunmen on our streets and I would urge anyone who knows anything about this shooting to come forward to police as soon as possible. 

The club was busy with customers watching a football match on TV when the shooting took place

The club was busy with customers watching a football match on TV when the shooting took place

'We need these people apprehended to protect the community and ensure that nothing like this happens again.' 

Belfast City Councillor Matt Collins said on Twitter: 'Disgusted to hear about the shooting and murder of a man in west Belfast today — an appalling act of violence, which must be condemned by all.

'My thoughts are with the victims family and anyone impacted by this barbaric act.

Two ambulances were parked within the grounds while a PSNI helicopter monitored the scene from above

'There's absolutely no place for guns in our communities.'

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Major Investigation Team, said: 'At approximately 2.45pm, police received a report that two masked men had entered the Donegal Celtic Sports and Social Club shortly before 2.30pm and shot the man a number of times.

'He was pronounced dead at the scene. Both gunmen are believed to have made their escape on foot along Suffolk Road.

'The investigation is at a very early stage and I would urge to anyone with information or anyone who was in the Suffolk Road area at the time the shooting took place, and seen two men running from the club or who may have captured dashcam footage, to contact us.'

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