Northern Ireland

Victim of Mount Vernon gun attack thought to be prominent loyalist

The man was shot in Mount Vernon on Saturday night. Picture by Pacemaker
The man was shot in Mount Vernon on Saturday night. Picture by Pacemaker The man was shot in Mount Vernon on Saturday night. Picture by Pacemaker

A PROMINENT loyalist is believed to have been the victim of a gun attack in north Belfast.

The 51-year-old man was shot in the chest through the door of the property in the loyalist Mount Vernon estate.

He was taken to hospital but police said his injuries were “not believed to be life-threatening at this time”.

Police said four other people were in the property at the time but all others escaped unhurt.

Detectives confirmed they are treating the shooting as attempted murder.

“This was a reckless and callous act and certainly an attempt to kill this man in cold blood,” Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell said.

“We believe a gunman got out of a car, approached an address in Mount Vernon Park and knocked the front door. “As the victim opened it, he was shot once in the chest with what we believe was a handgun, through the door of the house.”

Police have appealed for information about a car suspected to have been used in the shooting