Murdered Doctor Was To Wed NI Man

The doctor shot dead in troubled Afghanistan had been due to fly back to the UK within days to marry her NI-born fiancé who is also currently in the trouble-torn region.

The news was revealed as the Foreign Secretary called the murder of the British aid worker "deplorable".

Commenting after Dr Karen Woo died with a group of health workers murdered in Afghanistan, William Hague said: "We can confirm the murder of a British female doctor in northern Afghanistan.

"She was killed with a number of other health aid workers," he said.

"This is a deplorable and cowardly act which is against the interests of the people of Afghanistan who depended on the services she was bravely helping to provide," the senior politician said.

"Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time."

Dr Woo, 36, was along with six Americans, one German and two Afghan interpreters executed in an ambush in Badakhshan province as they returned from delivering medical supplies to poor mountain communities.

The dead woman's fiancé, Mark (Paddy) Smith, a security consultant who comes from Newtownards in Co Down - but who is based in Kabul - added: "She was an extraordinary person. You don't find too many people like Karen Woo in this world, unfortunately."

Dr Woo's body is expected to be returned to the UK on Tuesday.

(BMcC/GK)