CCTV showing hitmen tracking drug dealer visiting sick mother before his death released by cops

Mark Lovell was shot multiple times at close range while sitting in a car outside his home on Ardcarn Park in Newry on December 1 last year.

The police described the shooting as a “planned, ruthless and targeted attack”.

Up to 20 shots were fired in the killing, which was linked to a drugs feud.

Six people have been arrested in connection with the 58-year-old’s murder, but no one has been charged.

Yesterday, on the first anniversary of his murder, the PSNI made a new appeal for help, backed by a £20,000 reward from the Crimestoppers charity.

Speaking at a press conference, Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly urged any witnesses to come forward after releasing new CCTV showing a black Mercedes police believe was used by the murderers.

He confirmed Lovell was known to police and said the PSNI was working with An Garda Síochána on suspected cross-border elements to the shooting.

Mr Kelly said he was unable to comment on any drug feud.

A statement from Eileen Hughes, Lovell’s wife, was also read in which she described her late husband as a loving son and grandfather whose devotion to his mother was “cruelly used against him by his murderers”.

“Mark was an only child. He was his elderly mother’s sole carer. And, since his murder, she has been in hospital, broken-hearted. She remains there still today,” she wrote.

“Mark was a loving son, daddy, grand-daddy and husband. He was a great friend, and he’s sorely missed each and every day.

“He loved life, he enjoyed a quiet pint and always looked forward to a good concert.

“Each day Mark made his way to look after his mother in Meigh. Ultimately, this devotion of care was cruelly used against him by his murderers.”

The new CCTV footage shows a black Mercedes that was stolen from Dublin in July 2022 at a crossroads in the Meigh area at around 5.11pm.

Police said the car had false number plates.

Mr Kelly added: “I believe the gunmen travelled in a black C-Class Mercedes which was later found burnt out in the Dundalk area.

“I now know they followed Mark earlier that afternoon to Meigh, where he was spending time with his sick mother. Mark was her sole carer.

“The CCTV shows the Mercedes turning left onto Chapel Road. It immediately takes a left turn into a car park, where it turns around and comes back again towards the same crossroads. From here, it heads right, in the direction of Forkhill.

“While the Mercedes is turning into the car park, Mark’s car can be seen approaching the same crossroads.

“He’s driving a black Volkswagen Golf, and is travelling from the direction of Meigh, heading towards Newry.

“He stops off in Newry city centre, before heading home to Ardcarn Park.

“I believe that, when he reached Ardcarn, the gunmen were already there and waiting.

“This violence has no place in our society. One life was taken and any passer-by could easily have been injured or killed by the reckless volley of bullets.

“I am appealing to anyone with information, or who may have captured dashcam footage, to come forward.

“I’m also reminding people there is a reward of up to £20,000 from the charity Crimestoppers for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mark’s murder.

“I understand drug