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Police Arrested Man Under Terrorism Act Over Attempted Murder

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested a 24-year-old man under the Terrorism Act for the attempted murder of Sean O’Reilly.
He was charged with attempted murder and firearms offences and will appear before Belfast Magistrates Court.
The shooting occurred on 23 February 2025 inside a white Skoda Octavia taxi in Bell Steel Manor, Dunmurry, Belfast.
Detectives recovered firearms, a baseball cap and a hi-vis jacket in the Glasvey area after the attack.

Summary

The McCartney sisters’ justice campaign served as a diplomatic lever that hastened the IRA’s cease-fire end.
U.S. Special Envoy Mitchell Reiss cited the case to pressure the IRA and linked it to broader peace talks.
Three IRA members were expelled after the campaign, though the group denied the murder was ordered by the IRA.
At Sinn Féin’s annual conference, the sisters publicly refused applause, rejecting the party’s attempt to co-opt them.

History

On 10 April 1998 the Good Friday Agreement, signed by the British and Irish governments and backed by leaders such as Tony Blair, Gerry Adams and US President Bill Clinton, ended most violence of the Troubles and set a two-year decommissioning deadline. The accord’s cease-fire framework, approved by 71.2% of Northern Irish voters, now underpins prosecutions of alleged IRA operatives and the McCartney sisters’ pressure campaign.

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On 10 April 1998 the Good Friday Agreement, signed by the British and Irish governments and backed by leaders such as Tony Blair, Gerry Adams and US President Bill Clinton, ended most violence of the Troubles and set a two-year decommissioning deadline. The accord’s cease-fire framework, approved by 71.2% of Northern Irish voters, now underpins prosecutions of alleged IRA operatives and the McCartney sisters’ pressure campaign.

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