MORE than 20 suspects have been identified as part of the investigation into the murder of Irish gangland boss Robbie Lawlor, a court heard.
International drug dealers are believed to have been involved in planning his assassination, with threats issued against anyone who assists the police probe, a judge was told.
Details emerged yesterday as bail was refused to a 45-year-old man accused of carrying out “research and logistics” around the killing in north Belfast.
Patrick Teer, from Thornberry Hill in the city, is one of two men charged with Lawlor’s murder.
The 36-year-old Dublin criminal was gunned down outside a house at Etna Drive in the Ardyone area on April 4.
Belfast Magistrates Court heard police believe Lawlor was shot dead when he attended a pre-arranged meeting at 37-year-old co-accused Adrian Holland s home.
It was claimed the victim went there to collect cash following a prior meeting at a Tesco store in Crumlin, Co Antrim the previous day.
A gunman emerged from the property and opened fire, hitting him several times. He died at the scene.
Originally from Dublin, Lawlor was reported to have been involved in a feud between rival Drogheda-based factions.
He had been linked to the abduction and murder of a 17-year-old in January.
The gunman fled down side streets to Kingston Court, where a Volkswagen Scirocco, stolen from Co Roscommon in January and left there as a potential getaway car, was instead set on fire, the court heard.
More than 20 suspects have been identified as part of the investigation into the murder of gangster Robbie Lawlor
International drug dealers are believed to have been involved in planning his assassination
Robbie Lawlor
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Robbie Lawlor Belfast assassination plan involved international drug dealers, court told
More than 20 suspects have been identified
Robbie Lawlor
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Adrian Holland
A Detective Inspector claimed the victim went there to collect cash following a prior meeting at a Tesco store in Crumlin, Co Antrim the previous day.
A gunman emerged from the property and opened fire, hitting him several times. He died at the scene.
Originally from Dublin, Lawlor was widely reported to have been heavily involved in a feud between rival Drogheda-based factions.
He had been linked to the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods in January this year.
The gunman then fled down side streets to Kingston Court where a Volkswagen Scirocco, stolen from Co Roscommon in January and left there as a potential getaway car, was instead set on fire, the court heard.