Brian McIlhagga Murder: Police Renew Appeal

Police investigating the murder of Co Antrim man Brian McIlhagga have made a fresh appeal for information.

Mr McIlhagga, 42, was attacked and shot in both legs in the Riverview Park area of Ballymoney on 05 January, 2015.

The PSNI made the appeal on the second anniversary of his death.

Four children were in the house at the time when he was assaulted in the kitchen. He was then dragged outside and shot in both legs. He died at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey, said:"We are continuing in our efforts to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice and I would ask that anyone with information, no matter how small, comes forward to police.

"We are in no doubt that there are a number of people in the community who know the identity of those involved in Brian's murder and I would urge them to look to their consciences.

"I ask them to place themselves in the shoes of those young children in the house that night - three of them all under the age of 13 were upstairs and there was a 13 year-old downstairs in the living room - when four masked and armed individuals came in through the front door. Brian was then viciously and brutally assaulted in the kitchen.

"These young children heard his screams of terror and pain while the violent injuries were being inflicted. That is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. The 13 year-old would also have had some sight of Brian lying injured in the front garden."

Police believe paramilitaries were involved in the murder.

Mr Harvey continued: "This is a very challenging and complex investigation. I believe we have identified a number of the suspects who attacked Brian and I believe we have identified a group of other individuals who were on the periphery of that attack and I would appeal to all members of the community, to anyone with any information, to come forward and help us to bridge that evidential gap, to cross that line and place those people before the courts."

(CD/LM)