Cabbie shot dead in 'grudge killing'

A taxi driver hit with a shotgun blast in Northern Ireland was the victim of a grudge killing by republicans, it was claimed yesterday.

Barney McDonald, 51, was ambushed by two masked men outside a snooker club at Donaghmore, near Dungannon, Co Tyrone on Wednesday night.

Just hours later, two of Mr McDonald’s sons appeared in court, one accused of threatening to kill a named individual.

Neighbours claimed the Catholic widower and his family had been involved in a bitter and long-running dispute with republicans.

Another son who had been ordered by the IRA to leave Northern Ireland was later killed in a car crash after being allowed to return home for the birth of his daughter.

‘‘It’s well known Barney didn’t get on with republicans round here,’’ a neighbour claimed tonight.

With forensic experts combing the scene of the shooting, police refused to confirm a motive for the attack.

Chief Superintendent Eddie Graham insisted: ‘‘It’s much too early to speculate.’’

He added: ‘‘It was an attack which was savage in its brutality. Quite frankly it was the stuff of nightmares.’’

But Sinn Fein emphatically denied any IRA involvement.

In a further twist, the loyalist group Red Hand Defenders claimed it was behind the attack.

Mr McDonald was hit in the head by a shotgun blast as he sat at the wheel of his car.

He had been called to Arthur’s Snooker Club, a converted barn at the back of a house in Annaghbeg Park, late Wednesday night.

As he waited for his fare, two gunmen emerged from the bushes and fired four shots through the car windows before making their escape. He died instantly.

A 16-year-old boy who was in the snooker hall and witnessed the killing was today too frightened to talk.

But his father, who did not want to be named, said: ‘‘My son looked out to see who the taxi was for just as they (the gunmen) opened fire.

‘‘He said it was like a horror scene.’’

Sinn Fein Assembly member for Mid Ulster Francie Molloy insisted a sectarian attack could not be ruled out.

‘‘Certainly, I would refute any claim that it was the IRA,’’ he said.

‘‘The IRA ceasefire is still in place. I think the IRA’s announcement last week that it has put arms beyond use again is a clear indication of its commitment to the process.’’

His denial was backed by a statement issued by the Red Hand Defenders, a loyalist paramilitary cover name used by the Ulster Defence Association and the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

It said: ‘‘We are claiming responsibility for the shooting in Donaghamore in which a Catholic taxi driver was killed.’’

Security sources treated the admission with caution, pointing out that it could be a bid to muddy the water.

The Red Hand Defenders has in the past claimed to be behind attacks later linked to republicans.

Northern Ireland security minister Jane Kennedy said it was a cowardly and savage attack.

‘‘Those who carry out acts of barbarism are the enemies of the whole community,’’ she said.

Nationalist SDLP councillor Vincent Currie, who knew Mr McDonald, described the attack as ‘‘really vicious’’.

‘‘It was a cold-blooded, cruel, callous, vicious murder that took place while youngsters were in a snooker club. Many of them witnessed this,’’ he added.

Democratic Unionist MLA Maurice Morrow also blamed republicans and urged police to publicly identify the culprits.

Hours before Mr McDonald was shot dead, two of his sons were arrested by police investigating allegations of a threat to kill a named individual.

Justin McDonald, aged 22, and his brother Brian, aged 23, from Windmill Hill, Dungannon were freed on bail after the court hearing in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.