Sinn Fein chief Martin McGuinness condemns murder bid on republican
SINN FEIN deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said a murder bid on a staunch party supporter yesterday was carried out by “organised criminals”.
The Mid Ulster MLA said the bomb attack was part of an attempt to intimidate “advocates of accountable policing”
The man was attempting to remove a poster from a lamppost in the Corliss Road area of Crossmaglen, south Armagh on Wednesday when a device exploded.
Police believe the poster was booby trapped and when he removed the poster the device exploded.
The victim – named by Mr McGuinness as Frank McCabe jnr – took the full force of the blast in his chest and face.
He is now in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and doctors are said to be battling to save one of his eyes.
Mr McCabe was recently warned by the PSNI that he was under threat of death from dissident republican crime gangs in the south Armagh.
The main culprits are the faction named as Oglaigh na hEireann.
Mr McGuinnes said today: “Those who have been targeted in this way have taken huge personal risks advocating accountable policing with the community and it follows a campaign of intimidation against the community in south Armagh.
“I condemn the bomb attack on Frank McCabe Jnr which has left him seriously injured in hospital and my thoughts are with him and his family.
“This bomb attack was carried out by an organised criminal gang in the north Louth/south Armagh area.
“This was attempted murder and was an attack on the peace process and an attempt to intimidate the entire community of south Armagh and north Louth.
“The criminals who carried out this attack must be brought to justice and the PSNI and the Gardaí must do all in their power to tackle the scourge of organised crime.”
All roads in the area have now been re-opened as no further devices were found.
