Derry Shooting Condemned

A leading Sinn Féin politician, the Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney, has slammed the shooting of 35-year-old man in his constituency last night.

Two masked men armed with shotguns entered a bookmakers' premises at Meenan Square, Londonderry at about 9pm and told everyone to lie on the floor.

They then shot a 35-year-old man shot in both legs.

Speaking today Mr McCartney said: "Sinn Féin condemn this shooting and the sheer recklessness of that actions of those involved. Local people are quite rightly horrified by this attack.

"It has left one man with gun shot injuries and has left those who were in the shop at the time traumatised.

"The people who carried out this attack represent nobody and have no support within this community. They need to see that so-called punishment shootings achieve nothing.

"These days are gone, and we do not want these people on our streets carrying out these types of shooting," he insisted.

Meanwhile, John Tierney of the SDLP, who knows the family, said it could have been murder: "Not so long ago there was a shooting and a young man lost his life - young Emmett Shiels. It could have been similar last night," he said.

The victim was treated in hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The gunmen hijacked a silver Vauxhall Vectra in Dove Gardens. It was later found on fire in Creggan Heights.

(BMcC)