A DERRY FATHER of four has been shot dead in Afghanistan, where he was working as a security contractor for Nato.

The 51-year-old  former police officer was killed by an escaped insurgent prisoner on Saturday night.

The incident happened in Musa Qala in the northern Helmand province, when a prisoner overpowered the guards who were taking him to pray. He seized his captors’ weapons and shot McGonigle, before also killing two US marines.

The prisoner was eventually shot and killed.

McGonigle’s father, Joe, who lives in Trillick, Co Tyrone, spoke last night of the family’s devastation.

Our hearts are broken. It is an awful thing to happen but there’s nothing we could do about it.

Ken McGonigle was employed by a private security firm, New Century, which has been hired by Nato to carry out training of soldiers in Afghanistan.

McGonigle had worked as a community police officer in Derry before taking a job with New Century, first in Iraq then, for the last three months, in Afghanistan. He was due to return home in a matter of weeks.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and the couple’s children Ruth, Dale, Alex and Jimmy.