Police investigating the murder of a man (35) in south Armagh believe he may have been shot by dissident republicans who were former associates.
Martin Conlon, from Railway Street in Armagh, was found unconscious at the side of Farnaloy Road, outside Keady, at around 6.30pm on Monday.
It is understood that some passers-by had stopped to help the victim, and police have asked anyone in the area at the time to help them with their inquiries.
He was taken to hospital where he later died from several gunshot wounds to his head.
The dead man was recently released from a four-year prison sentence in Portlaoise prison for training others in the use of firearms in Co Meath.
He is believed to have had links to the Real IRA and may have died following a dispute with other members of the group. Detectives investigating the murder are attempting to uncover Mr Conlon's last movements, including the possibility that he had been held by his killers before being taken to Keady and shot. They are examining two cars, one of them a silver-coloured Volkswagen Passat which belonged to the victim. It was found about a mile and a half from where he was found. The other car was found in Armagh city.
The murder has been condemned by the SDLP and Sinn Féin. Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MP, said the murder was unjustifiable and he 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. I think more and more in recent times it has been shown to be drifting towards outright gangsterism," he said.
SDLP councillor Gerald Mallon said: "This has all the hallmarks of a paramilitary murder. This was a horrific murder and no family should ever have to face what his family are facing."