High profile IRSP member, Willie Gallagher was arrested and later released following an altercation in which a man suffered a broken nose and bruising to his body.
Mr Gallagher (59) was arrested on Wednesday in the Carlton Drive area of Strabane following what police described as a serious assault.
Detective Inspector Michael Winters said police received a report around 4.40pm on Wednesday that a 58-year-old man was assaulted during an altercation involving a number of men.
DI Winters said: “The man sustained injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening at this time, including a broken nose and bruising to his body.
“A 59-year-old man, subsequently arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm has since been released on bail, pending further police inquiries. We believe this assault occurred sometime between 1pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday.”
The detective inspector appealed to anyone who was in the Carlton Drive area around the time of the incident to contact police at Strand Road in Derry.
It is understood that police recovered a knife and gloves in a follow up search near the scene of the altercation.
Following his release from police custody yesterday, Mr Gallagher claimed on Facebook that he had to defend himself after coming under a knife-attack at his home.
A veteran republican, Mr Gallagher was involved last year in the operation to recover the body of school teacher, Seamus Ruddy who was murdered and secretly buried in France in 1985. The Strabane man liaised with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains, passing on new information which led to Mr Ruddy’s body being found near Rouen.
