Man Shot In Portrush

A man has been shot in both legs in the Windsor Place area of Portrush, County Antrim.

The incident began on Tuesday evening, shortly before 23:00, when a number of masked men entered a house in the area and shot a 21-year-old man in both legs.

It is believed that the males then made off on foot from the house.

The man has been taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which have been described by police as "serious".

A 19-year-old female and a baby boy who in the house at the time were not injured.

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has claimed those who carried out the shooting are part of a loyalist gang.

Mr. Dallat said: "The idea of up to five masked men coming into a house at bedtime to mutilate the limbs of a man in the presence of a woman and child beggars belief.

"While the Chief Constable may argue that the UVF are on ceasefire in Belfast, the facts are there are still 'gun-toting thugs' loyalists who are not on ceasefire and are still acting as judge and jury in places like Coleraine, where I believe these thugs have extended their tentacles from.

"These are the last people society needs to be involved in any issue relating to how people live or how they conduct themselves. The fact that they are still running round with guns years after a so-called ceasefire makes the arguments of the Chief Constable rather futile. The real question should be when will these people will cease to exist and when we can build a normal society free from the evil of men bursting into homes to disable and perhaps mutilate for life the limbs of other people irrespective of who they are or what they have been accused of doing."

Detectives have appealed to anyone with any information about this incident or anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the Windsor Place area to contact CID at Coleraine Police Station on 0845 600 8000.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(IT/MH)