Man released after murder probe arrest

Joseph Reynolds, a 40-year-old from west Belfast and a member of McKenna’s darts league in Crumlin, was travelling to work when his van was ambushed by gunmen on Sydenham Road on October 12, 1993.

Three others were injured. Several people were arrested, but no-one was charged.

Last week the police announced they were reopening the investigation into Mr Reynolds’ murder. Officers distributed leaflets and posters about the murder in parts of east Belfast last Friday.

Mr Reynolds, who was a Catholic and a subcontractor painter, was on his way to Shorts aircraft factory with a number of workmates, when their vehicle was
attacked. Their van had stopped at a pedestrian crossing on Sydenham Road at 8.25am to allow two men to cross.

The two men, who were wearing blue boiler suits and flat caps, walked across the road at Fraser Street but when they drew level with the van, they opened fire with a handgun and a rifle.

At the same time, another man in a stolen light blue Astra car, which had pulled up behind the van, also opened fire.

Mr Reynolds’ workmates managed to get the van to the Shorts factory where medical assistance was provided, but he was pronounced dead. Three of the seven other men in the van, who were four relatives and three workmates, were also injured.

The three gunmen ran off down Fraser Street, across the Sydenham bypass to Ballymacarrett Road where they drove off in a dark blue Vauxhall Astra.

A number of arrests were made in the original investigation but no-one was ever charged.