Police and gardaí have begun a murder inquiry after a man was shot dead in the Border village of Cullaville yesterday morning.
Mr Keith Rodgers (24) lived at Hackballscross, Co Louth, a short distance from where he was shot during a confrontation between two groups.
He suffered three gun shots to the chest, and died later in Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, about 10 miles away.
The incident, which involved up to 10 men, happened at a junction near Malachy Conlon Park, a small residential area in the village. The area is overlooked by a British army watchtower less than a mile to the north.
Two other men were injured in the shooting. One presented himself at the same Dundalk hospital with wounds to his head, while the third was treated for what reports said were puncture wounds to his leg at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Co Down.
The PSNI's assistant chief constable for the area, Mr Stephen White, was keeping an open mind on the shooting, and on the possibilities of paramilitary involvement or a family feud.
He said the shooting was not an isolated incident, and could be linked to recent violent incidents, including a so-called "punishment shooting".
"There does appear to be some sort of bad blood or feuding going on between a number of parties; who they are I'm not going to comment at this stage.
"But clearly when persons in numbers gather together, and at least one firearm is produced, we're looking at this with an open mind but we're also looking at paramilitary activity."
The investigation began with a fingertip search of the area where the shots were fired. However, police are mindful of the traditional reticence of local people in the staunchly republican area to speak openly or to come forward with evidence.
No one approached by The Irish Times claimed to know anything or even to know any other person who heard or saw shots fired.
Mr White admitted that mistrust of the police could hinder the investigation, but he insisted that a new beginning to policing had been made and encouraged people to look to the future. For those who felt unable to come forward directly to the investigating team, he suggested they approach local political or community representatives.
His appeal came on the same day as speculation rose in the US of an imminent announcement by Sinn Féin in favour of joining the Policing Board.
Assembly members were quick to condemn the violence. Mr John Fee, of the SDLP, Mr Conor Murphy, of Sinn Féin, Mr Danny Kennedy, of the Ulster Unionists, and Mr Paul Berry, of the DUP, all voiced concern.
Mr Murphy said: "Regardless of who carried out this shooting or the motivation behind it, it is wrong. It should not have happened, and Sinn Féin is totally opposed to such activity."
Unionists also referred to the political implications - especially in the midst of talks between Sinn Féin and the UUP aimed at restoring devolution at Stormont - of evidence of paramilitary activity in south Armagh.
Meanwhile, a man has been charged in connection with the attempted murder of another man as he lay in his bed in south Belfast at the weekend.
Mr Gerard Michael Donegan (21), of Ross Road, west Belfast, faces a number of charges, including the attempted murder of Mr Maurice McCracken with a hammer. He was remanded in custody until April 9th.