Man Appears in Court Charged with Murder in North Belfast Shooting

A 41-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Robbie Lawlor, who was fatally shot in north Belfast in April 2020. Paul Drew, 41, also faces charges of possessing a firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

Lawlor, 36, who was from Dublin and believed to be involved in organized crime in the Republic of Ireland, was shot multiple times outside a residence on Etna Drive in Ardoyne. Drew was arrested in Liverpool on Wednesday.

During his appearance at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Friday, Drew confirmed he understood the charges. A detective informed the court that evidence against him was still being compiled, citing a "correlation of CCTV and telecom enquiries." The officer stated that "work was still ongoing and may take some time," with another file having been submitted to authorities.

Drew's legal team indicated they were preparing a bail package to present to the court. The judge granted legal aid, acknowledging the serious nature of the charges. Drew waved to supporters before being taken into custody. The court is scheduled to revisit the bail proposal on September 28.

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