Chief Insepctor Tony Callaghan brands last night shooting in Derry as barbaric
A SENIOR police officer has described a brutal paramilitary-style attack on a man in Derry last night as “absolutely barbaric”.
Masked and armed dissident republicans stormed the Corrib Court home of the 30-year-old man in Ballymacgroarty around 10.25 pm.
He was then mercilessly beaten with an iron bar, then ordered to lie down on the kitchen floor where he was shot through the leg.
The victim’s partner was also assaulted during the dissident republican attack.
She and their children were in the house when the horror unfolded.
The man was later taken by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital where the Western Trust say he is in a “stable condition”.
Derry city police boss Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan said the front door of the man’s house was forced open and a number of masked men entered his home.
“These people, armed with a handgun and an iron bar, assaulted the victim, striking him on the head and then dragged him to the kitchen where they shot him in the right leg.
“The victim’s partner was present as were two children and during the assault the victim’s partner was also assaulted as she tried to come to his aid and protect him.
“She was struck by those involved, dragged off and pulled by the hair.”
Ch Insp Callaghan said police were exploring the motivation for the assault but that it has all the hallmarks of a paramilitary attack.
“The youngest child was 10 years of age and an older teenager was present as well,” he said.
“To force their way into someone’s home, to drag that person to the floor, to assault him with an iron bar is bad enough and to then shoot him in the leg is absolutely barbaric.
“These crimes have no place in our society, they are a residue of the past and can lead to death.”
Detective Inspector Conor McStravick, who is leading the hunt for the gunmen, has appealed for anyone with information about the shooting to contact his officers at Strand Road on the 101 non-emergency number.
Alternatively information about the gang can be passed anonymously through Crimestoppes on the confidential number 0800 555 111.
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