Police investigate bar murder

Murder took place in a bar in Newtownards

The police have said they have not ruled out a paramilitary motive for a murder in a bar in County Down.

The man who was murdered was Stephen James Manners, 40, from Abbots Link in the town.

He was shot dead by two gunmen in Jimmy Mac's bar in Newtownards just after 2300 BST on Sunday.

Loyalist sources have said he was a former member of the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Five years ago he was convicted in relation to the murder of 26-year-old Catholic Ann Marie Smyth in east Belfast in 1992.

The gunmen are reported to have fired one shot at a number of people sitting at a corner table of the bar in North Street.

RUC's Stephen White: "Two masked men carried out a ruthless murder"

One of them then shot their victim several times in the pub's toilets.

No-one else was injured.

A murder investigation has been launched, but Royal Ulster Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White said a motive had yet to be established.

However, he said: "The murder has the hallmarks of a paramilitary organisation being involved.

"We are talking about two masked men carrying out a very ruthless and clinical murder."

It is believed the gunmen made their escape from the bar in a silver-coloured Ford Escort.

A burnt-out car found later in the town was being examined by detectives.