Gang shoots dead drug dealer in Co Down

The man shot dead last night in Co Down was a small-time drug dealer, according to security sources.

He had been targeted a number of times by rivals in the area and had moved out of Castlewellan, where his parents lived, to nearby Ballynahinch.

Matthew Burns, in his mid 20's, had been targeted at least twice before. He was finally shot dead last night in the passenger seat of a car that had slowed-up at a junction outside his home village of Castlewellan.

Shot in the back, he died at the scene of the attack. His brother, Patrick, who has no drug connections, is recovering in hospital from chest and arm wounds.

Last July, rivals threw a crude explosive device at Mr Burns and in September, six men attacked him with cudgels. A champion kick-boxer, he had fought them off and one of the gang fired a shot in the air to stop him seriously injuring one of his attackers.