Second Shooting Follows 'Critical' Wounding

A man who was shot in the legs by three men wearing balaclavas who forced their way into a house in Brompton Park in the Ardoyne area on Monday night is critically ill in the Royal Victoria hospital.

He was wounded about 10pm in what a police spokesman said appeared to be a paramilitary-style shooting.

PSNI detectives have appealed for anyone who witnessed the attack or who has information to contact them and have also issued an appeal for help over a second shooting this morning. SDLP Councillor Nichola Mallon (pictured) said local people are outraged and said that this second shooting in a matter of hours in north Belfast must also be condemned.

She said that an 18-year-old man was shot twice in both legs at a flat on the Antrim Road at about 10.30am today, (Tuesday).

Commenting on the punishment style attack she said: "Whatever the motivation for this latest shooting, there can be and is no justification for this Kangaroo style justice.

"This violent crime was wrong in the past and is wrong today and must not be allowed to have any place in our society.

"I strongly appeal to people who know anything about this violent attack to contact the police," she said.

North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA, Gerry Kelly has also slammed those behind the two shootings within hours of each other in north Belfast.

"The community of north Belfast does not want blood on their streets. Those responsible for these attacks need to 'fall in' behind the efforts - led by the community - to create safer streets rather than intimidating the community with the use of guns.

"Shooting people in the community will achieve nothing," he said.

(BMcC/GK)