A man shot dead in an attack that also left a woman with gunshot wounds fighting for her life has been named by police.

Wayne Boylan, 37 and a father of two, was gunned down by two men in a property in Warrenpoint, County Down, Northern Ireland, on Friday evening.

The woman, 21, was also shot and is in a critical condition. It is believed she was injured by pellets from the blasts.

Police are appealing for information about the shooting, in which they believe a shotgun was used. They said the motive for the attack was unclear.

The shooting happened near a golf club in a middle-class area of the small town, which is close to the border with Ireland.

DCI Geoff Boyce said: “Wayne was enjoying an evening with friends at his friend’s home in Lower Dromore Road when two cold-blooded killers burst into the house at around 7.30pm.

“The pair, who were masked, fired at Wayne with what police believe to be a shotgun, striking him in the head and fatally injuring him. He died at the scene. Pellets from the blasts also struck Wayne’s friend, a 21-year-old female, in the face and neck. She has undergone emergency surgery in hospital and remains critically ill in intensive care.

“At this time no clear motive for the attack on Wayne has been identified, and today I am appealing directly to those who may have information about his murder. Do you know the people involved? Please tell us what you know.”

South Down assembly member Sinéad Ennis also appealed for information.

“The community of Warrenpoint are shocked and stunned by this news,” the Sinn Féin representative said.

“Our first thoughts are with the family of the victim. The PSNI [Police Service of Northern Ireland] have the area sealed off and I would appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to assist the investigation.”