THREE men have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a prominent loyalist paramilitary, including one man in Kilbirnie.

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) member John Boreland, 46, was gunned down in north Belfast last month.

A 29-year-old man was detained in North Ayrshire while two others aged 33 and 61 were arrested in north Belfast on Tuesday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

All three suspects have been taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast for questioning.

Searches of two properties in North Ayrshire are also being conducted.

An eyewitness said police were there from around 6am and she saw them going into the house. It was thought it was a drugs bust at first and police were seen taking bags and other items out of the house.

Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, who is leading the murder hunt, said: “Officers have travelled to Scotland to assist colleagues from Police Scotland with the arrest and related searches.”

Boreland, a well-known criminal, was hit a number of times with a shotgun as he walked to his flat in the Sunningdale Gardens area of north Belfast on August 7. He died at the scene.

The shooting has been linked to disputes between rival loyalist factions.

Boreland, a father-of-three and close associate of north Belfast loyalist Andre Shoukri, survived an assassination attempt in 2014 and had been made aware of a death threat in the weeks prior to his murder.

In the aftermath of the attack, one man was arrested but was released unconditionally. A number of searches were also carried out in Belfast and a vehicle was seized.

DCI Galloway made a fresh appeal for information about a car used by the gunmen which has been subject to a detailed forensic examination.

“The investigation is progressing and I would again appeal for information about a silver Renault Megane car which was used by the killers,” the senior officer said.

“The car, registration number GJZ 4870, was in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast in the days leading up to the murder on Sunday August 7.

“We are still very keen to hear from anyone who saw it, saw who was in it and where it had been parked.”

The vehicle was found partially burnt out at an old quarry on Wheelers Road near Lisburn on August 9.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives on the non-emergency 101 number.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.