Reliable sources say Dessie O'Hare - who is suspected of up to 30 murders - is professing to be "saved".

But his presence at meetings of a small Protestant congregation in south Armagh is causing distress to relatives of his victims living in the area.

The ex-IRA and INLA man is also reported to have attended prayer meetings in Dundalk in recent weeks.

It is understood that while O'Hare's presence has caused unease within the tightly knit south Armagh congregation, leaders of the religious community are prepared to allow him to continue to worship with them.

No-one connected with the group was prepared to speak about O'Hare's presence at their meeting last week.

But one Church source in the area, who did not want to be identified, said: "My understanding is that Mr O'Hare has become a Christian believer and has attended religious services recently".

But one local man, whose close relative was shot dead by republicans, said: "I have been told that O'Hare attended a prayer meeting in this area recently and it has caused upset among victims,

"It is causing a lot of hurt. This has happened before with terrorists supposedly finding salvation and becoming 'born again' but the victims and their relatives find it hard to accept that such wicked people can be reformed".