Irishman killed in ambush

An Irish engineer was shot dead after he was ambushed in south-east Nigeria.

The victim, named locally as Robert Gray from Westport, Co Mayo, was killed and his driver seriously injured in the gun attack on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Gray, 45, had worked for a number of years in Nigeria and was involved in road construction projects with Irish company PW.

He was married to a nurse, Westport native Jeanette Kearns, and the couple have two daughters who are about to start secondary school.

It is understood Mr Gray came home for the girls’ Confirmation earlier thisyear.

Westport parish priest Fr Karl Burns visited the family after they received the tragic news.

“News of this tragedy is only seeping out today and it’s a great blow for thefamily,” said Fr Burns.

“It is a very sensitive time, and they need privacy and our prayers.”

The exact details of the gun attack, near the border with Cameroon, are not yet known.

A spokesman at the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was providingconsular assistance to Mr Gray’s family.

His body is expected to be repatriated early next week.