The police officer gunned down in a carefully planned ambush in Co Armagh last night was a married man with children, it emerged today.

The officer, who was on duty in Craigavon when the shooting occurred, has been named locally as Constable Stephen Carroll from Banbridge.

The dead policeman was an experienced officer who had been in the force for more than 20 years. Constable Carroll, believed to be in his 40s, was murdered as he responded to a call for help from a woman, described by police as a “vulnerable person”, who said her house was being attacked.

Two police vehicles went to the scene at around 9.45pm yesterday and as officers got out they were shot at. The victim was reportedly sitting in his car providing cover when he was shot in the head at close range.

The killing comes just days after the Real IRA murdered two soldiers outside Massereene Army base in Antrim and injured four others, including two pizza delivery men.

Mark Quinsey (23), from Birmingham and Patrick Azimkar (21), from London, were unarmed, off-duty and due to fly to Afghanistan in the early hours of Sunday morning with their regiment.

There has been widespread shock and revulsion at the murderous actions of the dissidents.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the murder and insisted there would be no return to “the old days.”

The Chief Constable said it will not put his officers off protecting the community.

The Police Federation today said it is now seeking an urgent reappraisal of all aspects of the security situation.

Federation chairman Terry Spence said the murder brings further horror to Northern Ireland.