THE republican paramilitary group which killed a nine-year-old girl in Belfast at the weekend has issued "death sentences" on four men it accuses of killing its former leader, Gino Gallagher.
Members of Gallagher's faction of the Irish National Liberation Army killed Barbara McAlorum as she played with a jigsaw in her home in Skegoneil, north Belfast, on Friday night.
The same group killed John Fennell in Bundoran two weeks ago. It claimed Fennell confessed to taking part in Gallagher's killing. Fennell had his skull smashed with a concrete block after being tortured.
They also claim that, under "interrogation, Fennell named four other men who were involved in Gallagher's murder at the Falls Road labour exchange on January 30th.
The "death sentences" are directed against these men.
INLA members are reported to have gone into hiding in the North, the Republic and in Britain as the feud worsens.
Both factions claim to be the INLA and both accuse their opponents of "crimes" punishable only by death. Yesterday, the feud appeared to be worsening, with no sign of mediation.
There was no indication that the death of Barbara McAlorum had shocked either faction sufficiently to consider ending the feud.
Barbara's father, Mr Kevin McAlorum, said he had been told that the INLA had killed his daughter, but said he had no idea why his home was attacked. He said: "I've never had any dealings with that organisation.
"She was an innocent little child and they murdered her. They are nothing but cowards. Complete scum. They didn't give a damn who they shot," he added.
Several people arrested following the shooting have been released.
Mr Kevin Scott (19), who was visiting the McAlorum house at the time and was also shot, was critically ill yesterday.
According to informed republican sources, Gallagher's followers completely distrust their main opponent, who was Gallagher's predecessor as INLA "chief of staff" and whom they accuse of ordering Gallagher's death.
Gallagher's followers say that, under torture, Fennell admitted the former INLA leader had ordered Gallagher's killing and had arranged to pay gunmen in Belfast to carry out the assassination. They say Fennell admitted to delivering money to the gunmen who shot Gallagher.
Suzanne Breen adds from Belfast:
The attack was condemned yesterday by the Democratic Unionist Party, Democratic Left and Families Against Intimidation and Terror (FAIT).
The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, said it was an appalling murder and appealed to the RUC to protect the decent people of north Belfast
Democratic Left's spokesman, Mr Seamus Lynch, said the people responsible were "sick" and had "nothing to offer society only death and destruction".