Police have released information on
the brutal murder of Daniel McClean, who died in a gun attack in North Belfast on Tuesday night.
Superintendent Jason Murphy said: “I can now confirm that the victim of the callous shooting on the Cliftonville Road last night, was 54 year old Daniel McClean, known as Danny. Our thoughts are with Danny’s family, who are coming to terms with their loss. We will work tirelessly to seek justice for his murder to find the answers to his family’s many questions.
“Danny was sitting in the driver’s seat of a red Audi Q2, which was parked in the driveway of a property, when he was approached by a single gunman and shot a number of times.
“This was a brutal and calculated murder carried out by someone who has no regard for life; there can be no justification for it whatsoever. It was carried out in a built up residential area, putting families living there at risk and it is extremely fortunate that no-one else was injured as a result of this shooting. I have no doubt that local people will have been left extremely traumatised by this ruthless murder.
“The lone gunman crossed from Clifton Crescent and fired a number of shots at close range. This gunman was wearing dark clothing and gloves and after the shooting, walked back towards Clifton Crescent. I am appealing to anyone who was in the area of Clifton Crescent at its junction with the Cliftonville Road between 7.30pm and 8.30pm last night to contact us. I would also like to see any CCTV footage, captured by local residents or businesses and dash-cam footage.
“Answers to many of the countless questions relating to Danny’s murder lie within the community. Today, I am appealing to anyone who has any information to talk to us. Please pick up the phone and tell us what you know. Alternatively, I have launched the Major Incident Public Portal at: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI21Q02-PO1 and you can use this facility to tell us what you know, send us photographs or upload video or dash-cam footage.
"I am directly appealing to the local community and those who were in the area last night to help us.
"Do you know who may have been involved in Danny’s murder?"
"Did you see Danny McClean or a red Audi Q2 in and around the Cliftonville Road area or adjoining streets between 7.30pm and 8.30pm last night?
"Do you know anything about Danny’s movements on Tuesday 2nd February?
"Were you in the area of the Cliftonville Road or Clifton Crescent yesterday, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm? What or who did you see?
"If you have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact detectives on 101, quoting reference 1593 02/02/21, or use the MIPP portal. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/"