Devoted father Ken 'had the heart of a lion'

A statement issued on behalf of Mr McGonigle's wife and family said: "Our dear husband, father and friend tragically lost his life whilst courageously helping the people of Afghanistan.

"Ken's primary motivation in life was his family; he was devoted to us all, as we were to him. He had the heart of a lion and died a hero."

The 51-year-old former police officer was working for a security services company when he was shot dead in the war-torn Helmand province of Afghanistan. Ken, his wife Gail, and children Ruth, Dale, Alex and Jimmy, lived in Magheramason, County Tyrone.

He was shot by an escaped insurgent on Saturday. Two US Marines were also killed in the incident in Musa Qala in northern Helmand province. Relatives and friends have been comforting Ken's wife and children in the wake of their loss at the weekend.

The family have been told Ken's body could be brought back to Northern Ireland at some time next week with funeral arrangements to follow.

Mr McGonigle's father Joe said his son had been the killer's first victim and the two marines had later been killed. The prisoner was then shot dead himself.

"Kenneth was the first man he saw - he opened up and Kenneth hit the ground," Joe McGonigle said. "Our hearts are broken. It is an awful thing to happen but there's nothing we could do about it. He wanted to be out there, he loved it."

He said: "He was very well-liked, he was a fella that if you met him once, you would want to meet him again, and everyone was treated the same. He was very popular here in the neighbourhood, at school and everywhere else."

Magheramason Presbyterian Church minister, Rev David Hillen, knew the McGonigle family well through their children's attendance at the local Boys' and Girls' Brigades.

He said the close-knit community in Magheramason was united in devastation over the "terrible tragedy."

Said Rev Hillen: "I heard about it first on Sunday after our service. Some of the people from Keery Park where the McGonigles live told me. It's a close-knit little estate here. They were visibly upset. All the children their would play together and they would all know one another."

Rev Hillen said he spoke to Gail McGonigle briefly on Sunday afternoon and spoke of the family's courageousness in face of their loss.

Mr McGonigle was in Afghanistan working as a police mentor for security services company New Century, headed up by former Royal Irish Regiment commander Colonel Tim Collins.

A statement said: "Ken was a highly professional, deeply competent, well-admired and thoroughly committed colleague who made a material difference through his work."

It also stated: "His presence and contribution will be sorely missed by everyone in the company and at the Nato training mission."