Shooting at victim’s home in Mimosa Court in Derry after masked men forced their way in at the end of August
A total of 18 people have been shot in the North of Ireland in paramilitary-style attacks since the start of October 2018.
And 11 of those brutal shootings happened in Derry.
The attacks have been blamed on two groups – the INLA and the New IRA, the terror group which shot dead journalist Lyra McKee on Thursday, April 18 in Creggan while observing a riot
Chief Inspector Johnny Hunter said such attacks had “little, to no, community support”.
“There is no justifying these attacks, they are barbaric,” said the senior police officer.
“Those who continue to believe in the use of violence, from whatever criminal grouping they claim to represent, do so to cement their own status and exert control, in full acceptance of the fact that they are victimising their own communities,” he said.
“The majority of people in our communities want to make the transition away from paramilitaries and the associated intimidation and violence.”
Police have not said whether a shooting in the Waterside area of Derry on Tuesday was paramilitary related.
But locals believe it was carried out by criminals involved in the drugs trade who tried to kill members of the Deehan family over their outspoken comments on those peddling poison in the community with recreational and prescription drugs.
Police at the scene of shooting of a man in Ballymagroarty in February this year
Over the course of one week in September, there were three violent assaults in Derry’s Galliagh estate.
* On 25 September a man was shot three times in the legs in what police described as a “vicious and brutal” gun attack.
* Just over 24 hours later a woman has been beaten with a hammer, kicked and punched during an assault by a gang of masked men while she was at home with her young children
* On 30 September, a man was also shot in both legs.
It’s not clear what the motive for these assaults was, however local reports suggest they may have been part of a feud between rival groups.
Police have increased their presence in the Galliagh area over recent weeks.
Chief Insp Hunter said those behind the recent attacks “rely on people in the community staying silent”.
He appealed for anyone with information about the paramilitary attacks to come forward.
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