Donegal Murder Victim Was Previously Attacked

The victim of a brutal border murder had previoulsy been the victim of a shooing by republicans and it is now believed he was abducted prior to being shot dead last night.

Named as Co Tyrone man, Andrew Burns (27), the gardá believe those responsible for the killing escaped in a silver car and the PSNI have since said that a silver Rover car was later found burnt out at Coshquinn outside Londonderry later on Tuesday evening.

The body was found near a church in the village of Donnyloop in Castlefin, close to the border with Strabane, at about 7.30pm on Tuesday and remained at the scene overnight.

The victim was discovered by shocked local people attending a youth club event who found the man lying on the road, beside the adjacent parochial house.

One woman said she heard two shots. It is thought the man may have been shot in the church car park.

A number of local people, including a nurse, tried to resuscitate the man but he died a short time later.

Parish Priest Father Brian McGoldrick arrived at the scene and prayed over the body: "I am simply appalled by it," he said.

"It is just a sad reflection on things that are happening in Ireland at the moment.

"Why they should have singled out Donnyloop, I don't know.

"It is just an appalling crime and there is nothing you can do but condemn it in the strongest terms."

The area remained cordoned off overnight and a forensic team was expected to arrive on Wednesday.

A gardá spokesman said: "The scene has been preserved and the services of the state pathologist and the gardá technical bureau have been requested."

Local police Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn, who went to the scene, had earlier appealed to families from both sides of the border who were concerned about a missing relative to contact them or the PSNI.

The man's body is due to be taken to Letterkenny hospital for a post-mortem examination later.

(BMcC)