Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for killing a 40-year-old man in a bar in Newtownards, Co Down, on Sunday night.
Stephen James Manners, a former member of the UVF convicted for his role in a sectarian killing, was understood to have been on the organisation's "hit list". He appeared in court in March on drugs charges and was awaiting trial.
Mr Manners was shot a number of times in the toilets of Jimmy Mac's bar on North Street in the town shortly after 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Two masked men, one armed with a handgun, burst into the bar and shot in the direction of a group around a table before following Mr Manners into the toilets. The gang made their escape in a silver Ford Escort, which was later found burnt out in the Upper Gransha Road area outside the town. The RUC confirmed the killing bore all the hallmarks of a paramilitary killing but stressed several lines of inquiry were being followed. Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White described it as "a ruthless and despicable" killing and said a thorough investigation would be carried out.
"Murder is murder and it has to be condemned no matter what the motive and whatever the background," he said.
Mr Manners was acquitted of murder but sentenced to 10 years on appeal in 1994 for assisting offenders in the sectarian killing of a mother-of-two, Ms Anne-Marie Smyth (26), in 1992.
Mr Jim Rodgers, a UUP councillor, said Mr Manners' family had approached him for help after he was told he was on a UVF death list.
"He was accused of taking part in robberies and drug dealing and ordered to pay money to the organisation," said Mr Rodgers. "He was a bad boy no doubt, but nobody has the right to take the law into their own hands." Mr David Ervine of the PUP, the political wing of the UVF, yesterday said he was unaware of any UVF death threat against Mr Manners.
"Whatever argument existed, to attempt to solve it like this is neanderthal," said Mr Ervine.
The DUP's Ms Iris Robinson described the killing as "deplorable" while Mr David McNarry of the UUP said the incident highlighted the increasing problem of gang-related violence in the North.