Kevin Conway was shot multiple times at his Rossnareen Park flat in the west of the city on January 9, 2024
A gun used in the “execution-style” murder of Kevin Conway also featured in a subsequent attempt to kill a taxi driver in west Belfast, a court heard today.
Forensic examinations confirmed the same weapon is linked to the shooting of Sean O’Reilly, prosecutors revealed.
Both attacks are believed to be part of a wider feud among rival dissident republican factions and a notorious criminal organisation known as The Firm.
Details emerged as bail was refused to one of the two men charged with the gangland murder of Mr Conway two years ago.
Aidan O’Keefe, 29, and co-accused Fergal Kane, 55, are being prosecuted over their alleged involvement in a joint enterprise to carry out the killing.
Both men, whose addresses in Belfast cannot be reported, face a further count of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Mr Conway, 26, was shot multiple times at his Rossnareen Park flat in the west of the city on January 9, 2024.
He had been associated with The Firm and was on bail awaiting trial for the murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan, Co Armagh 12 months previously.
Police revealed he was gunned down just minutes after sending his partner a message to say he was relaxing at home on the Playstation.
The killers are believed to have entered the property and opened fire with a shotgun and a pistol.
O’Keefe and Conway are alleged to have travelled in convoy by van and car to the scene of the assassination.
They are connected by CCTV evidence, a vehicle tracking device and registration plate sightings on the night of the murder, according to the prosecution.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard today that a shotgun cartridge was discovered inside O’Keefe’s work van seized by police investigating the killing.
He also allegedly made Google searches about one-way flights to America in the aftermath of the murder.
Crown counsel argued some potential civilian witnesses who provided accounts to police have since withdrawn their cooperation due to fear.
She also disclosed details of a connection to the subsequent attack on Mr O’Reilly on February 23 last year.
The 50-year-old taxi driver was shot and wounded by gunmen as he sat in his car outside a cab firm at Bell Steel Manor in the city.
“The weapon used to injure him was recovered by police and forensically examined,” the prosecutor said.
“It was identified that this weapon was also used in the murder of Kevin Conway.”
There is no suggestion O’Keefe played any part in the attack on Mr O’Reilly.
He was initially granted High Court bail in October 2024, but detained again last month for allegedly breaching the terms of his release.
District Judge Suzanne Rice heard he had more than one permitted mobile phone and was stopped in a car registered to another man currently facing terrorism charges.
Opposing his fresh application for bail, counsel said: “This was an execution-style murder of Kevin Conway.”
She also claimed there were concerns about all potential defendants due to the continuing dispute among rival factions.
“It is a matter of public knowledge that this feud has been going on,” the barrister added.
Michael Forde, defending, insisted the alleged breaches related to technical oversights and phones owned by other members of O’Keefe’s family.
Arguing his client made no attempt to interfere with any witnesses or to leave the jurisdiction while on release, he suggested there may be a legal bid to halt the case before it reaches trial.
“There is no identification by CCTV of the facial features of (the gunmen), there are no eye-witnesses saying it was these two co-accused, this is very much a circumstantial case,” Mr Forde submitted.
However, Judge Rice ruled that O’Keefe must remain in custody.
She told him: “I simply cannot be satisfied if I were to grant you bail on any strict conditions that you would comply with them.”
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