Wylie Family Fears Killer Linked to 2022 Murder; Seeks Answers

A man named Kieran Wylie died in west Belfast. Someone shot him almost five years ago, and his family wants answers from the police. The shooting happened on May 17, 2020, at a house on Lenadoon Avenue. Wylie was 57. Two of his daughters, then 16 and 28, saw it happen.

The family went to court on Tuesday for a hearing before the inquest. The hearing took place at Laganside Courts, and the coroner, Joe McCrisken, spoke at the event. The Wylie family will submit information concerning the inquest’s scope and material disclosure.

McCrisken said an inquest is acceptable. There will be requests for information to the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The next hearing is on May 19.

Michael Clements, the family’s solicitor from KRW Law, spoke outside court. His clients think state agents and informants played a role in Wylie’s death.

Clements believes the state failed to protect Wylie and didn’t take all steps to prevent his death. He asserts that Wylie’s murder relates to other murders by dissident republicans from 2018 to 2022.

The family thinks there are links between cases, one concern involves Sean Fox’s murder in 2022. They suspect someone involved in Fox’s death also killed Wylie. The family has tried to get info already, contacting the PSNI and PONI using Freedom of Information requests. They remain frustrated by the lack of answers and hope the inquest will clear up rumors and give them some closure.