FT921-10562 _AN-CBEBPAFDFT 920205 FT 05 FEB 92 / Three shot dead at Sinn Fein offices: RUC constable kills himself after attack on west Belfast advice centre By Our Belfast Correspondent and TIM COONE DUBLIN THE MURDER of three men at offices of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, yesterday formed a violent backdrop to the first official visit to Northern Ireland by an Irish president since the partition of Ireland in 1921. A 24-year-old off-duty police constable opened fire at Sinn Fein's west Belfast advice centre about lunchtime, killing three and injuring two others. He later shot himself dead. It was the first time in more than two decades of 'troubles' that a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has carried out an attack in such circumstances. Mrs Mary Robinson, president of the Irish Republic, was about a mile away when the shooting occurred. Unionist leaders organised a demonstration against her visit in protest at articles two and three of the Irish constitution which lay claim to jurisdiction over Northern Ireland. Mr Nigel Dodds, the lord mayor of Belfast, said: 'I don't think that she can be welcome as long as those articles remain.' Previous Irish presidents have visited Northern Ireland in the past, but in an unofficial capacity, for example to attend funerals of victims of paramilitary killings. The west Belfast attack came as thousands gathered in the city centre to demand an end to terrorist murder and intimidation of workers. The rally, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, was called following the IRA killings last month of eight Protestant workers at Teebane Crossroads near Cookstown. The police constable gained admission to the advice centre, which also houses the Republican Press Centre, by posing as a journalist who had arranged an interview. Once inside, he opened fire with an automatic shotgun. Eye witnesses said he later escaped in a BMW car. About two hours later, the policeman's body was found on the shores of Loch Neagh at Ballinderry, about 25 miles from Belfast. He had a gunshot wound to the head and a shotgun was found nearby. The day before, the constable had attended the funeral of a police colleague at Comber, County Down. He was arrested after firing shots over the grave later that evening. Subsequently he was medically and scientifically examined and police took possession of his service Ruger revolver. He was told to attend a further examination yesterday morning but did not turn up, the RUC said last night. An police inquiry is under way into the killings. One of the dead was an elderly doorman and the other victims were a centre worker and a member of the public. Mrs Robinson said she was upset by the killing, saying: 'Any death by violence is distressing.' Mr Brian Mawhinney, Northern Ireland minister responsible for security, said the deaths were 'an absolute tragedy, as is all waste of life in Northern Ireland'. Ulster protesters demand peace: Picture, Page 8 The Financial Times London Page 18