Two young men found dead after a shooting incident in a Co Down park early on Sunday are now believed to have taken part in a suicide pact. A legally-held shotgun, believed to belong to one of their fathers, was found at the scene at Solitude Park in Banbridge. It had been reloaded by one of them. Police yesterday named the men, who were both from Banbridge, as Mr Shane Rooney (17), of Ashley Street, and Mr Jason Clegg (24), of Forthill Green.
The RUC has ruled out any sectarian motive for the deaths and has not started a murder inquiry. A third man, who had been arrested and was helping police with their inquiries, has been released. He is understood to have been with the men shortly before the shooting and heard them talking of a suicide pact but thought they were joking. He is believed to have left when the first of his friends took up the shotgtin. Post-mortem examinations were carried out yesterday and police are preparing a report for the coroner's office.