Ulster Protestant Extremist Shot

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A former Protestant city councilor who once said Roman Catholics should be burned was shot in the head and critically wounded today, police said.

In telephone calls to Belfast news media, the Irish People’s Liberation Organization claimed responsibility for the shooting of George Seawright, 36. He retired from politics in June after being defeated for a seat in the British Parliament. Elected to Belfast City Council in 1981, he made headlines in June, 1984, when he told a council meeting that the city should buy an incinerator and burn all Catholics. His anti-Catholic outburst proved too inflammatory for his party, and he was ordered to apologize or be expelled.