Two men charged with murder after death of Nicky Gordon in east Belfast

Murdered: Nicky Gordon

Two men have now been charged with murder following the death of 51-year-old Nicholas “Nicky” Gordon after a violent assault in east Belfast earlier this month.

The charges mark the latest major development in the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s murder investigation into the fatal attack in the Holywood Road area, which left Mr Gordon critically injured before he later died in hospital.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team confirmed on Thursday, 21 May, that the two accused men, aged 25 and 31, have both been charged with a series of serious offences.

The charges include murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and threats to kill.

Mr Gordon died in hospital on Saturday, 16 May, four days after the assault which happened in east Belfast on Tuesday, 12 May.

Court appearance scheduled for Friday

Both men are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 22 May.

The charges follow a fast-moving cross-jurisdiction investigation which previously saw the two suspects arrested in Scotland before arrangements were made to return them to Northern Ireland for questioning by detectives.

Police have been carrying out extensive enquiries since the attack, including appeals for CCTV, dash-cam and mobile phone footage from the Holywood Road area during the early hours of 12 May.

The case has drawn significant attention in Belfast following the violent circumstances surrounding the fatal assault and the continued police presence in the area as detectives pursued suspects and gathered evidence.

Murder investigation remains active

As part of the ongoing inquiry, detectives previously launched a Major Incident Public Portal allowing members of the public to upload information, images and footage directly to investigators.

Police have continued to urge anyone with information connected to the case to come forward, warning that even seemingly small details could prove important to the investigation.

The PSNI also confirmed that, as is standard procedure, all charges will now be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

The murder investigation remains ongoing.