The PSNI has confirmed that the murders of two men found in west and north Belfast on Monday were linked and that there was a dissident republican connection to the killings.
One of the two men, who were officially named by police yesterday, appeared to have been bludgeoned to death by a person wielding a spade, it also emerged yesterday.
The head of the police investigation, Supt George Clarke, said yesterday that the dead man found with a gunshot wound to the head in the Bog Meadows area of west Belfast about 4am on Monday was Edward Burns (36), from Ardoyne in north Belfast.
The victim found in an alleyway behind Elmfield Street in Ardoyne was Joseph Michael Jones (38), from the Poleglass area of west Belfast. Supt Clarke implicitly confirmed the report of the Rev Aidan Troy, who gave the last rites to Mr Jones, that Mr Jones was beaten almost beyond recognition.
"Mr Jones died, we believe, from severe head injuries. Police have recovered a spade from this latter scene and that is being forensically examined," said Supt Clarke. "I can also confirm that it is the police belief that these two murders are linked and that they were committed against the background of tensions within dissident republicanism."
A shotgun and pistol were found in bushes close to where Mr Jones's body was found, it was also learned yesterday. Local sources said it was believed that the Continuity IRA was linked to the killings. Local and security sources also suggested that the motivation for the attacks was likely criminal rather than "political" and could involve "drugs or some other form or crime of score settling".
A third man who suffered a gunshot wound in the Bog Meadows area on Sunday morning was said to be in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital last night. Police investigating his shooting found Mr Burns's body about 4am on Sunday.
Police are also investigating whether there is a link between the two killings and the wounding to gun attacks earlier this month in Ardoyne.
