N. IRELAND: ARMAGH: FORMER POLICEMAN SHOT DEAD

(28 Mar 1998) English/Nat
A former policeman was gunned down in front of his wife outside a supermarket in the centre of Armagh City, Northern Ireland, on Friday night.
Cyril Stewart, who retired last year from the police reserve after 18 years, died where he was ambushed by the gunmen.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Former policeman Cyril Stewart was leaving a supermarket in the centre of Armagh City when he was gunned down in this carpark on Friday night.
He was with his wife, leaving a supermarket and approaching his car, when he was killed by two masked men.
Police said he was shot at least three times by the two men and died at the scene.
There has been no claim of responsibility.
Stewart, a Protestant, retired last year from the police reserve after 18 years.
Armagh City is religiously polarised between predominantly Catholic and Protestant areas, but the city centre where the shooting took place would be considered a neutral area.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam appealed to anyone with information to go to the police. She said the killers "must be caught".
A unionist councillor said he was an honest and decent man.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My reaction is one of anger, horror, disgust that such a decent, upright man can be mowed down in cold blood by terrorist thugs.
Q: You knew Mr Stewart?
A: Yes I knew him very well. Knew him all my life, knew his family.
Q: What sort of man was he?
A: A very upright, decent man."
SUPER CAPTION: Jim Speers, Former Mayor of Armagh and Ulster Unionist Counsellor
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What happened earlier here this evening was that Mr Stewart was out with his wife doing the weekly shopping in the supermarket, in the Safeway supermarket which is behind me here. After he had finished the shopping he left the store with his wife to return to their jeep which was parked in the carpark. When they were almost back to the jeep they were approached by two masked men who opened fire and brutally and viciously gunned him down in front of his wife and other shoppers in the carpark. He died in the carpark later from his injuries and we believe the two men responsible ran across the carpark towards the chapel and made good their escape."
SUPER CAPTION: Neville McCoubery, Detective Superintendent
Police at the scene describe the killing as "brutal".
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well it can only be described as a viscous, brutal killing of a man going about his normal private business, doing his weekly shopping with his wife.
SUPER CAPTION: Neville McCoubery, Detective Superintendent
A leading nationalist politician denounced Stewart's killing, saying it was the work of people determined to prevent a peace settlement in Northern Ireland.
Seamus Mallon, deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (S-D-L-P) said "They are imposing their will on an entire community but they cannot be allowed to succeed".
Northern Ireland's police chief, Ronnie Flanagan, blamed that and other recent attacks on former Irish Republican Army (I-R-A) members who left the organisation last year.
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[@louisrafferty1813]

Absolute cowards and a great dishonour to all level headed people who have lived in Armagh all their lives!💘

[@liamg1706]

Cowards killing terrorists then