An investigation is under way in the North after a man was shot dead and his brother wounded when their car was attacked outside a Co Down pub last night.
Matthew Burns, who was in his twenties, was gunned down while travelling with his brother Patrick in a car along the Burrenbridge Road in Castlewellan.
His brother, who was driving their car, was taken to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and arm.
The shooting took place just after 7 p.m. within yards of the family home in the Burrenbridge Estate. A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said it was not known at this time how many people were involved.
The police are investigating whether the killing was drugs-related. Police this morning also advised people to avoid Castlewellan if possible as the area has been completely sealed off.
According to one local source, Mr Burns was assaulted by a group of men a few years ago but got the better of them. He was also attacked last summer when a blast bomb was placed on his car.
Mr Eamon O'Neill of the SDLP said he believed republicans were behind the murder. "It is absolutely disgraceful that anybody should attempt to take the law into their own hands and be judge, jury and executioner. It flies in the face of all that we can expect to come from the Good Friday Agreement".
Asst Chief Constable Stephen White said everything would be done to catch those responsible. "This is an atrocious murder and want to join with local councillors in outrightly condemning it and offer my condolences to the family. Whatever the motive behind it, nothing justifies the murder of a young man," he said.
PA