Politicians condemn gruesome N. Ireland murder

Politicians condemned yesterday the murder of a man in Northern Ireland who was shot in the head and left half-naked by the side of a road as "a throwback to the very worst of our past".

The unidentified man, believed to be between 35 and 40, was found late Wednesday with his wrists bound and wearing only his underwear on the outskirts of Londonderry, near the border with Ireland, a lawmaker at the scene said.

The murder came amid a state of high tension in the British-ruled province, two days after a huge car bombing outside a courthouse. Police said it was a "sheer miracle" no one was killed or hurt.

Suspicion is likely to fall on dissident republican paramilitaries opposed to the peace process that led to the creation of a devolved executive in which republican and pro-British loyalist former foes share power.

Mark Durkan, a local member of Parliament for the nationalist SDLP party, said the killing was "horrific", adding: "I totally and absolutely condemn this brutal and crude murder which is a throwback to the very worst of our past."

Martina Anderson, a Northern Ireland assembly member for the republican Sinn Fein party, was called to the scene by a local activist shortly before police arrived and said the murder was "horrific".

"The young man's body was naked, except his underpants. His hands were bound and he was shot in the head. His two wrists were tied together," she said.

Ms Anderson told the BBC the attack bore the hallmarks of a paramilitary-style killing, adding: "There is no place for this in our society.

"We all want the gun taken out of our community, we are absolutely disgusted with what happened last night - how dare they?"

Irish Foreign Micheal Martin described the murder as "brutal" and "reprehensible".

"There can be no possible justification for this disgusting killing," Mr Martin said. "Those who carry out such acts speak for no one and offer nothing but fear and hatred."

A 1998 peace agreement largely ended three decades of conflict by groups fighting for and against British rule of the province, although sporadic attacks continue.

After Tuesday's car bombing in Newry, south of Belfast, political leaders - who only weeks ago clinched a deal on devolving sensitive policing powers - insisted peace would not be derailed.