News

Man shot in the leg in Garvagh "wild west" shooting

Police at the scene of a shooting on the Main Street area of Garvagh, Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.
Police at the scene of a shooting on the Main Street area of Garvagh, Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin. Police at the scene of a shooting on the Main Street area of Garvagh, Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.

A MAN is being treated in hospital after being shot in the leg in Garvagh, Co Derry.

Three shots were fired at the 46-year-old man on the village's Main Street at around 3am on Saturday, with one bullet hitting him in the leg.

He also suffered injuries to his face and body in the attack and was rushed to hospital to undergo surgery for the gunshot wound.

The PSNI said two men were arrested over the shooting - a 25-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and a 28-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The Irish News understands the shooting may be linked to a dispute within loyalism.

Detective Inspector Pete Mullan appealed for any witnesses who were in or around the Main Street in Garvagh between 2am and 4am to come forward.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a male making off from the scene on foot, carrying a suspicious item in his hand," he added.

Describing the shooting as something out of the "wild west", SDLP MLA for the area John Dallat, said residents were woken in the night to the sound of gunshots.

"Guns have no place in our society," he said. "They are lethal weapons and certainly shouldn’t be used to avenge rows or whatever motivated this ugly scene in what is normally a peaceful village where most people were asleep in their beds before going to their places of worship rather than waking up to gunfire on the main street."

Richard Holmes, a local resident and UUP councillor for Garvagh, said incidents like this were a thing of the past.

"Guns and shootings should be a thing of the past and the local community in Garvagh stand against such things," he said.

"The community are shocked and appalled by this incident and only grateful that we are not mourning the death of this man.

"The actions of the few are not reflective of the community in Garvagh, which is a place where the community are law abiding. The thoughts of the local community are with this 46-year-old male in his recovery."