A man (34) has been arrested in connection with the suspected paramilitary murder of Michael Fitzgibbon in north Belfast.
Detective Superintendent John McVea said: “The male has been detained on suspicion of murder. He will be questioned at Musgrave police station in Belfast.”
McGibbon (33) was attacked on Friday at around 10pm in Butler Place near Emfield Street. The PSNI said the killing “bears all the hallmarks of a paramilitary murder”.
The taxi driver, who had no criminal record and no apparent criminal links, had been threatened 24 hours before he was shot.
Mr McVea said: “Michael was brutally and callously shot a number of times in the leg in an alleyway in a densely populated urban area. Despite the best efforts of his wife Joanne immediately after the attack, she was unable to save him and Michael tragically passed away following emergency surgery at the RVH.
“What happened in that alleyway last night robbed a family of a treasured husband and father.
“There is nothing that can justify or explain the senselessness of this murder. And let’s be clear, that is what we are talking about here, murder.
“Michael McGibbon was a local man. As I’ve said, he was a husband and a father. He was also a taxi driver who was well known in his community.
“He was a man with no criminal record, no apparent criminal connections or associations and today we are talking about his murder. There is no rationalising that.
“This killing bears all the hallmarks of a paramilitary murder. Those who carried it out have no legitimacy in this community and today I am asking the community to help us find them. Help us bring justice to the McGibbon family.
“I am appealing in particular to two males who called at the McGibbon home late in the evening of April 14th. These men asked Mr McGibbon to step out of the house. When he refused, they stated that they would be back.
“The first male is described as in his early twenties, slim and was wearing a red hooded top, baseball cap and had a scarf over his face. The second is described as in his late teens, wearing a grey hooded top, baseball cap and also had a scarf over his face.
“I am asking these men, or anyone who knows their identity, to get in touch with police. If there is an innocent explanation for your presence at the house on Thursday night, allow us to eliminate you from this enquiry.
“I am also aware that other people in the area may also have been visited in a similar manner in recent days and I asking for these people to make contact with police.
“Finally, I would like to reiterate that the support of the community and local information will be vital in this investigation. If you were in the area last night or if you know anything that could potentially assist with our investigation, then please call the incident room at Ladas Drive on 028 90700303. Or you can phone the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
SDLP councillor Nichola Mallon condemned the father of four’s killing. “North Belfast has shouldered this kind of savagery in the past,” she said. “There can be no justification for it. It was wrong then and it is wrong today. “I urge anyone with information to contact the PSNI immediately.”
Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly also condemned the killing, he said had shocked the local community. “This is the second such killing carried out in this area in the last six months by an armed gang which is clearly at war with the local community,”
Mr Kelly added. “I am calling on anyone with information on both of these killings to bring it forward to the PSNI. “There can be no place for such actions in our society. “Those who carried out this terrible act do not represent the local community in north Belfast.
“They need to realise that they have no support and get off the backs of the community.
“The community demands that they call a halt to these actions immediately.”
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers MP said: “This callous and shocking murder appears to have the hallmarks of the paramilitary-style assaults which too often ruin lives and scar Northern Ireland.
“My sympathy is with Mr McGibbon’s young family.
“The PSNI investigation will now take its course and I urge anyone with information to come forward to bring those responsible to justice.”