Anthony Moran believes he was in the wrong place at the wrong time of shooting in Derry last week. PIX: Courtesy of BBC NI
A MAN shot in the knees in Derry last week by violent dissident republican gunmen believes he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Anthony Moran believes his friend was the intended target for the so-called punishment shooting, but he managed to take to his heels and flee the scene.
That left his friend Anthony Moran in the firing line for the gunman.
The 44-year-old told the BBC that he decided to speak out to clear his name after he was shot last Monday, July 3.
He was visiting his friend in Galliagh Park when three masked men burst in into the house of his friend who was living under threat from local dissident republican criminals.
Two were carrying metal bars and a third was armed with a gun.
When a number of shots were discharged, he said his friend ran out and the gunman then turned his attention to him.
“I believe that the guy who shot me knew that he wasn’t there to shoot me,” Mr Moran told the BBC.
“But whatever way their operation panned out, I think, in a split-second decision, he’s decided to take it upon himself – ‘there’s somebody here, I can’t get the guy [they planned to shoot], I’ll get this guy here whoever he is’.”
“I’m not known to them, I’ve never been in trouble with them, I’ve never had the need to go and speak to them, they’ve never spoke to me, I’ve never been in trouble with the police.
Mr Moran was shot in both knees by dissident republican criminal in a case of mistaken identity he believes
“So I definitely don’t understand why I was targeted in the end and, as I say, I don’t think I was originally the target.
“I think it was just a split second decision by the guy with the gun.”
Mr Moran said he would have to use a wheelchair for at least the next six weeks and after that there will be several months of rehabilitation.
But he said he was determined to make a full recovery
He said his family have been trying to find out why he was targeted, but have so far been met with silence.
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