Police are probing
the theory two professional hitmen were responsible for the
murder of a nightclub doorman in Londonderry.
Brian McGlynn (28) was shot dead in front of his terrified
girlfriend, Jennifer Cowley, early on Sunday morning.
The young couple were in bed when two gunmen smashed their way
into their home, in the Fountain Hill area of the city, before
blasting Mr McGlynn in the chest.
The gang then escaped in a green Vauxhall Cavalier.
Although the murder victim's 24-year-old girlfriend was not
injured in the attack, she was later treated for shock at
Altnagelvin Hospital.
The murder victim's family were last night too upset to speak
about the killing.
The detective leading the hunt for the killers, Chief Inspector
Jeff Smyth, described the gun attack as "well planned and
ruthless".
He said: "We are keeping an open mind in terms of the motive for
this murder. It has all the hallmarks of a well-executed and
well-orchestrated killing.
"We are trying to establish if it was paramilitary or criminal
related or if he was murdered because of the nature of his job.
"He was a doorman, a bouncer, in local nightclubs and because of
the nature of his work he would have come across some very
unfriendly people and might have been subjected to either
threats or abuse. We know he had been involved in some
altercations.
"We have reported sightings of the car being driven along the
top deck of Craigavon Bridge and turning into Abercorn Road. It
was daylight at the time. We want to hear from anyone who saw
this car.
"His girlfriend should, at such a young age, not have had to
witness this brutal killing and I am determined to bring Mr
McGlynn's killers to justice. My sympathy goes out to her and to
Mr McGlynn's family."
Sinn Fein councillor Lynn Fleming condemned the killing.
She said: "What we don't want after 35 years of conflict is a
gun culture, we want to get away from those days.
"I express my condolences to the young man's family. I am
shocked at this turn of events and I totally condemn the murder
of this young man no matter the motivation of those involved,"
she added.
Meanwhile, senior police sources today said there would be
search operations in the city.
