19/04/2014 BBC Newsline

Police say the former dissident republican leader, Tommy Crossan,

who was murdered in West Belfast yesterday was shot through the

window of his office hut. A 26-year-old man, arrested yesterday

in connection with the murder, is still being questioned. Detectives

have appealed for information about a red BMW car used by the attackers,

which was later found burnt out, as Dan Stanton reports.

Forensic teams at the hut where Tommy Crossan was shot dead at

4:45pm yesterday. His attackers fired a number of bullets at close

range into his upper body. The detective leading the investigation

described what happened. He was seated inside the cabin and we

believe he was shot through the window whilst he was seated at a

desk. It is a terrible, barbaric crime for which there can be no

excuse. I would appeal for anyone with information to contact us. The

married father of six died at the scene.

No one has admitted carrying out the killing. But dissident republicans

is one line of enquiry. It is early to be commenting on

motive. A feud within dissident republicans is one area we will keep

in mind but it is too early to comment fully.

Mr Crossan was a former senior figure within the Continuity IRA.

The distant group is understood to have split recently. Police want

information from anyone who may have seen the red BMW in the weeks and

days before the shooting. OEZ 9177. That is the registration number.

Two motorcyclists have died in separate road accidents involving

tractors. This afternoon, a 28-year-old man died, after his bike

was in collision with a tractor on the Baranailt Road in Limavady. Two

other men in their twenties, on a second motorbike, were also injured.

Their injuries aren't believed to be life-threatening. Meanwhile, the

motorcyclist who died in a road accident in County Fermanagh last

night was 44-year-old Richard Brown from Lisbellaw. His bike collided

with a tractor on the A4 Belfast Road, outside Fivemiletown.

Three men in their 20s have been arrested in West Belfast, after a

car was hijacked last night. It happened in the Longwood Road area

of Newtownabbey. An elderly couple have been left

badly shaken by an arson attack at their home in Banbridge. Their car

was destroyed in the fire, which happened shortly after midnight.

Louise Cullen reports. Melted plastic hangs from the

burned-out shell of the car. It was destroyed in the fire which police

are treating as arson. The front of the house was also damaged by the

flames, and parts of the roof came down. You can still smell charred

tarmac and melted plastic. The intense heat destroyed the car and

damaged the ceiling and roof off the porch. The flames took hold at

midnight. There were a lot of bangs. I suppose

things were exploding. I was sleeping and I heard the noise. I

looked out of the window. I saw the car on fire. I was worried in case

the fire would spread to my car. Luckily, my Fat -- my car did not

have a lot of damage. The fire came perilously close to the neighbouring

house. The elderly couple who lived there did not want to be

interviewed. They were at home when the attack happened and while they

were not injured, they have been left badly shaken. The Fire Service

said the couple had a lucky escape. Examinations are being carried out

on the car today and police have appealed for information.

Now, it was another glorious day today. Will the sunshine last into

Easter Sunday? Cecilia is here with the weather forecast.

Hello, good evening. Some lovely weather over the last few days. More

strong sunshine on Easter Sunday but it will be a little different next

week. Tonight, it stays clear, quite chilly. The chance to see some spots

of folk by Easter Sunday morning. Miss D first thing. Any frost will

disappear. The day itself will bring lots of fine, sunny weather, and

warm weather. Sunshine to come for Scotland, a chilly breeze from the

sea. Lots of sunshine over Ireland, but more cloud further south in

England and Wales with heavy rain over the South East. Northern

Ireland enjoys most of the best weather. Cooler along the coast with

a sea breeze. A top temperature of 16 degrees. Similar to today.

Tomorrow night will be just as cold. More breeze and cloud. That is due

to that area of low pressure over the south of Britain which will

drift across southern Ireland. It hangs around at the beginning of

next week, with a new area of low pressure bringing Atlantic rain.

More unsettled weather. A noticeable breeze on Monday. Some showers

around. Still nice in the sunshine, enjoy the rest of your Easter break.

That's the local news this evening. BBC Newsline will be back tomorrow

evening at 6.50pm. In the meantime, you can keep up-to-date with local

news on BBC Radio Ulster, and our local news online service. Have a

very happy Easter. MUSIC: "Gods And Monsters"

by Lana Del Rey