A husband and wife were shot because of a dispute in a pub at Christmas.
Peter and Marie Dorrian were both shot after an armed gang stormed into their Turf Lodge home at around 6.15 pm on Thursday.
It is understood the couple, who are aged in their 50’s, were in the house at Norglen Parade with their 19-year-old son when the three-man gang struck.
They were later taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being shot in the living room of their home.
One of the couple’s sons last night said they were targeted after a dispute in a bar several weeks ago.
It is understood Mr Dorrian was shot in the leg three times - in the thigh and knee - seconds after his wife was shot in the ankle when she tried to intervene.
The couple’s son last night described the attack as a “disgrace”.
"They were sitting in the living room having a cup of tea when they burst into the house,” he said.
"My mum jumped up and they shot her in the ankle.
“My dad tried to intervene and they shot him three times.
"My mum is in a bad way and we don't know what state my dad's leg is in."
The couple’s son said his father was targeted after a fall-out.
He added: "There's been a lot of rumours flying about already so, to be clear, they did nothing to deserve this.
"My dad was in a bit of a dispute in a bar over Christmas, he got into a bit of an argument, because of a misunderstanding.
"But to come and do this to two people in their 50s in their own home is a disgrace."
West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA, Pat Sheehan said the attack cannot be justified.
“The couple are well respected in the area and well liked and popular,” he said.
“There is no justification for this type of attack and whatever the motive was there is no justification for it.”
“The people responsible are trying to drag us back to the past and there’s no justification to for guns being brought onto the street."
Mr Sheehan called for an end to the violence.
“The community and neighbours are shocked and the family traumatised and this type of brutality serves no purpose,” he said.
“They need to stop and stop now.”
“They are only frightening and terrorising their own community and the community does not want this.”
SDLP assembly member Alex Attwood condemned the attack and said anyone could become a targeted.
“Everybody is vulnerable now,” he said.
“If they did what they die it shows nobody is off limits to these guys.”
The former Policing Board member wrote to PSNI chief constable George Hamilton last week to highlight his concerns and said more resources should be made available to tackle the area’s problems.
PSNI Chief Inspector Norman Haslett described the couple's ordeal as "horrific".
"People have taken law and order into their own hands and assumed the role of judge and jury and have passed the sentence,” he said.
And he appealed for information: "The people who did this have no moral compass whatsoever. I am appealing for anyone who has information about this incident, or anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area, to contact detectives"
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.
