26/09/2008

Gardaí Probe Bizarre Co Donegal Shooting And Abduction

A bizarre 'masked' gun attack in the small Co Donegal village of St Johnston on Thursday has left a man from Londonderry in hospital after being shot in the neck, his girlfriend abducted but later freed, and a puppy dog in veterinary care in a critical condition.

The man is in a serious but stable condition in an Irish hospital after masked men shot him in the neck.

The attack happened near the village of St Johnston at about 9.00pm.

The 26-year-old victim was sitting in a car with his girlfriend outside a house in Transalla when four masked men approached and opened fire on the car.

The man was hit him in the neck as his girlfriend leapt from the vehicle.

The injured man then managed to drive off, though his girlfriend was abducted by the gang, only to be later abandoned. She is not reported to be injured.

Her boyfriend drove to a neighbour's house and alerted Gardaí and was then taken to Letterkenny Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

A puppy - which was also in the car - was injured in the attack too, and is being cared for in an animal hospital, suffering from a bullet wound.

It is understood the couple, who both come from Derry, had only recently moved into the Transalla area.

Gardaí said they were working to establish a motive for the attack.

(DW)

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