A forensic examination of the scene has been carried out

The body of Andrew Burns, 27, from Drum Road in Strabane, was found near a church in Doneyloop, Castlefin.

It is believed he had been previously injured in a shooting blamed on dissident republicans.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein said the killers "have no regard for the community, for the government or law and order".

Gardai have said they have not ruled out a dissident republican or criminal link to the killing.

These people are criminals and are trying to damage our society in a way that is totally unacceptable to us as political leaders Martin McGuinness

The Real IRA has released a statement saying it was not involved in the murder of Mr Burns.

Mr McGuinness said: "We have to give our wholehearted support to the gardai and the PSNI.

"These people are criminals and are trying to damage our society in a way that is totally unacceptable to us as political leaders."

He said death threats have been issued in recent weeks to himself and First Minister Ian Paisley.

"I'm not afraid of the threats from anybody - we have a mandate and we stand by that mandate and we are not going to be threatened or intimidated by anybody," he said.

Parochial house

People attending a youth club found Mr Burns lying on the road, beside the parochial house at about 1930 GMT on Tuesday.

It is thought he was shot in the church's car park nearby.

A number of people, including a nurse, tried to resuscitate Mr Burns, a painter, but he died a short time later.

One woman said she heard two shots, while a local priest said Mr Burns had been abducted.

Father Declan Boland said the Burns' family were "crushed and broken" by the death.

"I want to condemn this as a most heinous, immoral and depraved act," he said.