Man in court charged with murder over north Belfast shooting

A 41-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Robbie Lawlor, who was shot dead in north Belfast in April 2020.

Lawlor, 36, who was from Dublin, was shot multiple times outside a house in Etna Drive in Ardoyne.

Paul Drew, with an address in Whitebrook Park, Tallaght, Dublin, has also been charged with possession of a firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property. He was arrested in Liverpool on Wednesday.

At Belfast Magistrates' Court on Friday, Drew spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.

Robbie Lawlor had been a suspect in the abduction and murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods.

A detective told the court that she would not be making a declaration of evidence against him but added that there was a "correlation of CCTV and telecom enquiries".

The officer told the court "work was still ongoing and may take some time" and that another file had been submitted.

The defendant's legal team said that they were working on a bail package and "wanted to present it to the court".

The court heard that Drew was self-employed and the judge said given the serious charges he would grant legal aid.

Drew waved to supporters in the public gallery as he was taken into custody.

The case will be heard again in relation to the proposal for bail on 28 September.