DUBLIN (AP) — A senior Irish Republican Army hard-liner was shot to death Friday in Belfast three years after former comrades in his splinter group threatened to kill him.

Residents say gunmen escorted the victim, 43-year-old Tommy Crossan, to a fuel depot overlooked by houses and shot him in the head and body at close range. He appeared to know he was about to be executed, a longstanding practice in IRA circles, and a Catholic priest was called to give the victim the Last Rites.