Northern Ireland

Co Tyrone woman says her family are 'living in fear' amid a campaign of intimidation

Police attended the scene of the shooting in the early hours of Monday
Police attended the scene of the shooting in the early hours of Monday

A CO Tyrone woman has said her family is "living in fear" amid a campaign of intimidation which has seen their home targeted in two shootings.

Sharon Gervin from Coalisland said her children have been left "traumatised" by the attacks on their house in Loughview Gardens, Coalisland.

In the latest incident, the family were in bed when shots were fired at the property during the early hours of Monday, damaging the windows.

Ms Gervin said less than four months ago, the house was also targeted as they celebrated her daughter's 21st birthday.

Speaking to the Irish News last night, the mother-of-four said they have "been under threat" since last October by a man trying to extort money from her 26-year-old son in a row over drugs.

She also claimed that after the shooting on Monday, the alleged suspect rang her son - who does not live at the house - to warn him that "he's going to kill us all".

"Shots were fired at our house in March when we were celebrating my daughter's 21st birthday," she said.

"They fired five shots at the front of the house when there was 30 people in the house at the time. We've been under threat since October 2018.

"My son was involved in drugs, he paid what he owed, but this man from Dublin still wants £250,000.

"Just last night (Monday) he phoned my son and said he's going to kill us all and he was laughing. He says he's coming back.

"It's only a matter of time, yes my son has done wrong, but we're an innocent family."

Ms Gervin, who says she has lived at the property for 25 years, also hit out at police.

"They know who is doing it," she said.

"They know the name of the man behind this attack, we've told them and gave them evidence. But they've done nothing, so where do we go?

"The police response is pathetic.

"Anybody's son can do something wrong, but we are not prepared to be intimidated, we are an innocent family."

A PSNI spokeswoman last night said detectives are "working to establish a motive for this appalling attack" and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

When asked about Ms Gervin's criticism of police, she said they do not discuss the security of individuals, but would act accordingly if they receive information that a person's life is at risk.