Gun murder victim is identified

Victim was found near Keady in south Armagh

A man who died from gunshot wounds in County Armagh has now been identified by police investigating his murder.

Police have said the murdered man was Martin Conlon, 35, from Railway Street in Armagh city.

He was found at Farnaloy Road close to the Madden estate outside Keady at about 1830 GMT on Monday. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

Detectives are thought to be working on the theory he was killed by dissident republicans with whom he was linked.

It is understood he was released recently from prison in the Republic of Ireland where he had served a four year sentence after been arrested at a Real IRA training camp.

Vehicle

Detectives are trying to establish Mr Conlon's movements. Police are examining two cars, one of them the victim's.

It was found about a mile and a half from where he was found, the other in Armagh city.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Conlon or his car - a silver Volkswagen Passat with the vehicle registration PCZ 4075.

Army technical officers are examining the vehicle and the area remains cordoned off whilst a scientific examination is carried out. A post mortem will be held later.

A number of people are understood to have stopped to help the injured man and police would like to speak to them.

They also want anyone who noticed cars moving suspiciously on the road or cars parked on the road to contact them.

The local MP, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy, said nothing could justify the killing and called on dissident republicans to end their violence.

"We would say to them to desist from their campaign - it has absolutely no strategy towards achieving any political objective," Mr Murphy said.

"I think more and more in recent times it has been shown to be drifting towards outright gangsterism."