Floral tributes accumulate as nationalists march in protest

New graffiti on a wall in Lurgan last night read "Rosemary Nelson - a voice for the people".

New graffiti on a wall in Lurgan last night read "Rosemary Nelson - a voice for the people".

Within an hour of her death being confirmed by Craigavon Hospital, a group of 150 nationalists marched from the Kilwilkee estate to the centre of the town. A minute's silence was held outside her office on William Street, and floral tributes began to accumulate. The wreckage of her silver BMW was still on the road at the scene of the explosion.

Ms Nelson had driven only a short distance from her home at Ashford Grange yesterday, travelling to her offices in the centre of the town, when a device exploded underneath the driver's side of her car at 12.40 p.m. She lost both legs, suffered serious abdominal injuries, and died later in hospital. Confirmation of her death came shortly after 3 p.m.

According to neighbours, Ms Nelson had returned from a holiday in Bundoran, Co Donegal, with her husband and two of her three children at 10 p.m. on Sunday night. A teenage son was in France on a school trip. The car remained in the driveway of their home from Sunday night until she left for work yesterday.

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When Ms Nelson braked at the intersection of her housing estate and the Shore Road, the device triggered. The car then continued across the Shore Road before hitting a wall on the far side of the road.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Ms Dara O'Hagan arrived on the scene minutes after the explosion and accompanied Ms Nelson to hospital. Mr Paul Nelson was also at the scene. Forensic officers sifted through the debris. A number of armoured vehicles cordoned off the section of Shore Road. The children of the local primary school, Tannaghmore, beside the scene of the explosion, were allowed home early. One of Ms Nelson's children, Sarah (8), attends the school.

The protest march from the Kilwilkee estate stopped outside Lurgan RUC station where men, women and children held black flags and placards demanding the disbandment of the RUC.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Mr John O'Dowd led the protest. He claimed the RUC had colluded in the bomb attack, given the sophisticated nature of the device. The area had been under "military curfew" over the last two days with a heightened security presence. "How could someone get through that, plant a bomb and get out again?", he asked.

According to another Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Mr Francis Murray, a roadblock was set up close to Ms Nelson's house at around 10.30 a.m. Mr Murray also claimed that Ms Nelson had yesterday morning complained to police that an army helicopter had hovered close to her house for some time the previous night.

An RUC spokesman said there was no record of such a complaint yesterday.

In mid-afternoon, a group of five men wearing balaclavas stood at the entrance to the estate. At 6.40 p.m. petrol bombs and bricks were thrown at soldiers close to the estate by gangs of youths.

And late last night a bus was hijacked in the Whiterock area of Belfast, apparently in protest at the killing of Ms Nelson.