The Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has condemned the murder of Kenji Goto by Islamic State (IS) militants.

The killing of the Japanese journalist, which was carried out by a fighter with a British accent, has been condemned by world leaders.

In a statement, Mr Flanagan said he sends his condolences to Mr Goto's family, the Japanese Prime Minister and the Japanese people.

"Kenji Goto, like other victims of ISIS' brutality, was devoted to helping the people of Syria and we must recall his bravery and humanity, while condemning utterly the depraved barbarity of his death," he said.

"Ireland stands against the inhumanity of ISIS and its unspeakable outrages against the peoples of the Middle East and those humanitarian and media workers who place their lives at risk to assist the Syrian population" he added.

The Japanese government says a video showing the apparent murder of Mr Goto appears to be genuine.

The one minute-long footage was apparently released by IS on Saturday evening.

It purportedly shows the beheading of the Japanese freelance journalist and film-maker, who was a father of three.

The man was wearing an orange jumpsuit and the video was similar to previous beheading footage the militant group has released.

The video was called "A Message to the Government of Japan" and the apparent murderer spoke with a British accent.

He blamed Mr Goto's beheading on Japan's support for the US-led coalition fighting IS in the Middle East. The kneeling hostage did not speak in the footage.

The Japanese, UK and US governments strongly condemned IS - with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visibly upset as he spoke to reporters in Tokyo.

"I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists," he said.

"We will co-operate with the international community to make them atone for their crimes."

Speaking through a translator, Mr Abe said he and his country are very angry at the people who have done this.

US President Barack Obama said America condemned the "heinous murder" and would continue to work with allies to destroy the jihadist group.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a "further reminder that ISIL is the embodiment of evil, with no regard for human life".

Speaking from her home in a suburb of Tokyo, Mr Goto's mother Junko Ishido said: "Kenji has died, and my heart is broken. Facing such a tragic death, I'm just speechless."

The family of another IS hostage, Jordanian fighter pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh, said they were "devastated" by Mr Goto's murder.

Mr Goto travelled to Syria in October seeking to secure the release of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa, according to friends and business associates.

Earlier this month, IS released a video of Mr Goto and Mr Yukawa and threatened to kill them unless a $200m (€177m) ransom was paid.

Last week, Mr Abe slammed "an outrageous and unforgivable act" after a video reportedly showing an image of Mr Goto holding a picture of a beheaded Mr Yukawa was posted online.

Mr Goto's family made public pleas to Mr Abe to negotiate his safe release.

Earlier on Saturday, a top Japanese diplomat said there was a "state of deadlock" in negotiations to release Mr Goto.

Japan's deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama made the comments in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he had been leading Tokyo's team attempting to secure the freedom of the veteran war reporter.

Mr Goto (47) had appeared in videos released by IS in which his fate was linked to Jordanian pilot Lt Mu'ath al Kassasbeh.

Jordan and Japan held indirect negotiations with the militants, who control around a third of Iraq and Syria, for the release of the men in exchange for a jailed jihadist.

Jordan demanded evidence that the airman who crashed in Syria on 24 December is still alive before freeing the would-be suicide bomber, who is on death row.

IS had said it would kill Jordan's captured pilot by sunset on Thursday unless Iraqi jihadist Sajida al-Rishawi was released.

Originally published January 31st