A SINN Fein councillor says two male victims of paramilitary shootings ‘by appointment’ in Derry last weekend were targeted by the INLA.
The men – aged 24 and 32 and believerd to be from the Brandywell area of the city – were shot within minutes of each other in Ballymagroarty.
The 24-year-old man was shot in the knee on a grassed area near Corrib Court.
The 32-year-old was shot in the leg in a grassed area not far away at O’Casey Court..
The INLA is being blamed for both paramilitary attacks after ordering both men turn up to be shot ‘by appointment’.
One victim remains in Altnagelvin Hospital while the other victim has since been discharged.
Local Sinn Fein councillor Eric McGinley said that people living in Ballymagroarty feel the area is being used as a “shooting ground”.
And he has called for the INLA to explain itself to the local community.
“Essentially what we are getting is that these two men were told to come to Ballymagroarty to be shot.
“And in fact we think another two men were told the same thing, but we are still trying to get that pinned down,” he said.
“As far as I am aware the two men who were shot on Friday night are from the Brandywell.”
Mr McGinley continued: “The people from Ballymagroarty are extremely annoyed that this area is being used as a shooting ground, because this isn’t the first time people have been brought into Ballymagroarty from outside the area and shot.
“I cannot say categorically this was the action of the INLA, but people here have been drawing their own conclusions to the recent appearance of INLA graffiti around the area and the increase in these attacks. This is an organisation that is suppose to be out of business, so why is there so much graffiti calling on people to join the INLA?”
He added: “People living here are witnessing these attacks and they are afraid but also sickened by the way their area is being portrayed.
“This has the appearance of an organisation trying to exert control, but this is just a mess, and the people behind these attacks need to explain themselves.”
The attacks have been condemned by the chair of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership, UUP councillor Mary Hamilton.
“The shooting of two young men on Friday night in the Ballymagroarty area has no place in our city and should not be tolerated,” she said.
“It is clear that whoever carried out the attacks had absolutely no concern for people living in the area, and their only aim is to try and exert coercive control on those living there.”
She added: “My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I would urge anyone with information on these attacks to contact the PSNI or Crimestoppers immediately.”
Police investigating the double shooting have appealed for information.
Detective Sergeant Michelle Boyd said that the weekend incident will have a lasting impacting on the victims.
“We are treating both incidents as paramilitary-style attacks: attacks that were brutal and vicious and will leave these two men with both physical and psychological scars,” she said.
“These attacks are yet more examples of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence.
“We want to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, so if you have any information that could help our investigation, please contact us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1186 of 1/2/19,” she said.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.
Tags: