News

Calls for threat against injured couple's son to be lifted

The house in Turf Lodge where a husband and wife were shot last week
The house in Turf Lodge where a husband and wife were shot last week The house in Turf Lodge where a husband and wife were shot last week

THREATS have been made against the son of a married couple who were shot in the legs in a paramilitary-style attack at their west Belfast home.

Peter and Marie Dorrian, both in their 50s, were targeted and shot at their Turf Lodge home last Thursday.

The couple, who were targeted after a dispute in a pub over Christmas, are still being treated in hospital for their injuries.

They were taken to hospital for injuries to their legs after the three-man gang struck their Norglen Parade home.

Mr Dorrian was shot in the leg three times while his wife was shot in the ankle when she tried to intervene.

It had earlier been reported that they had been shot while trying to protect their 19-year-old son from the gunmen.

It has now emerged that a son of the couple has since been threatened.

It is not known if the gun attack and threat are linked.

Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan last night called for the threat to be lifted.

"It beggars belief that threats have been issued against a family member of a couple who were shot several times in their own home in Turf Lodge earlier this week,” he said.

“It is despicable that this man and woman were shot in their own home in the first place.

“They have done absolutely nothing wrong unlike the armed gang who shot them.”

The assembly member said the threat needs to be lifted.

“It piles insult on top of injury for those responsible to issue threats against a relative of the victims.

“Those responsible have nothing to offer this community and I call on them to lift the threat immediately and get off the back of the people of Turf Lodge.”

A spokeswoman for the Royal Victoria Hospital last night said that both victims remain in stable condition.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the couple are well known and liked.

“They are a nice family and we can’t understand why this happened,” she said.

“People are shocked and they are well liked in the whole community.”

The latest double shooting came just days after a 21-year-old man was shot in the legs in the Ardmonagh Parade area while last month a 16-year-old boy was shot in both legs on waste ground at nearby Aitnamona Crescent.

SDLP assembly member Alex Attwood says he has written to PSNI chief Constable George Hamilton to highlight his concerns.