A FORMER Northern Ireland police officer who was shot dead along with two US marines in Afghanistan at the weekend was killed when prisoners he was guarding attacked members of the Afghan national police force during a prayer session.
Ken McGonigle (50), from Keery Park, Magheramason, Co Tyrone, was employed as a police mentor by the security services firm New Century. His wife Gail and their four children were yesterday being comforted by friends.
He and the two marines were shot dead on Saturday night in a detention centre in Musa Qala in Helmand province.
It is understood that Mr McGonigle, who served as a police officer in both Derry and Tyrone, was in a room with three local police officers guarding four suspected Taliban prisoners during an evening prayer session.
As the prayer session came to an end, the prisoners overpowered the guards. One of them managed to grab a rifle and open fire.
Mr McGonigle, the two marines and three of the four prisoners were killed in the ensuing close range exchange of fire.
A spokesman for New Century, whose chief executive officer is former Royal Irish Regiment commander Col Tim Collins, described Mr McGonigle as a highly respected and professional police mentor.
“His presence and contribution will be sorely missed by everyone in the company and at the Nato training mission. He was killed in a tragic but isolated incident while working in Afghanistan. The incident is still under investigation, and when this is completed additional details will be released,” the spokesman said.