Catholic, Protestant Friends Killed in Pub

Masked gunmen killed two friends--one a Roman Catholic, the other Protestant--and wounded three others at a pub in Poyntzpass, 25 miles south of Belfast, the capital. No one claimed responsibility, but politicians and the province’s police commander blamed Protestant extremists out to undermine ongoing peace talks. Two men entered the Catholic-owned Railway Bar and opened fire, killing Damien Trainor, 25, and his Protestant friend, Philip Allen, 34. The two mechanics--regulars at the bar--had just gotten off work and were drinking orange sodas, witnesses said.