A man shot dead his police officer wife before turning the gun on himself, it emerged tonight.
The bodies of Andrew and Caroline Kewley, both in their late 30s, were discovered at their secluded cottage in Mayobridge, near Newry, Co Down.
Police discovered the bodies, both thought to have bullet wounds to the head, just before 1am today.
A legally held handgun was recovered from the house on Edentrumly Road and detectives have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the shootings.
It was the second time in weeks that officers had been called out to the couple's home. Few people in Mayobridge knew much about the Kewleys, according to neighbours. The couple, who had no children, had only moved into the close-knit community within the last few years, and were regarded as polite but quiet.
Mrs Kewley, who many believed worked in the civil service, had a passion for horses. Several ponies were kept on land close to their house, itself set back behind a cluster of mature trees.
Her husband was known to make the three-mile walk down to Gorman's Bar in the centre of the village. "He was in last night as usual, just for about half an hour," one staff member revealed.