Opinion

Coleraine gun gang must be brought to justice

Even while we are all engaged in a fight against the deadly threat of the coronavirus, with the focus on saving lives, there remains a tiny minority of violent individuals who are intent on doing the absolute opposite.

It is profoundly depressing that after decades of conflict in our society, malign groups are continuing to take up the gun and inflict injury and death on their fellow citizens.

A 61-year-old woman is the latest victim of gun violence in Northern Ireland and has been left fighting for her life after a shockingly reckless attack on her home in Coleraine.

She was found lying unconscious in her house on the Bushmills Road after being hit in the head by one of a number of shots fired at the property.

Police say at least three men were involved in the shooting and two different firearms may have been used.

Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin said the gunmen fired through numerous windows indiscriminately, not knowing where the lethal bullets would end up.

He said they are working to establish a motive for the attack, which is being treated as attempted murder, adding that one line of inquiry is that paramilitaries may have been involved.

There is speculation that this murder bid is linked in some way to a hardline faction of the UDA operating in the north Antrim and Co Derry area.

Of course, there can be no possible justification for any murderous attack but the potential involvement of loyalist paramilitaries adds a further sinister aspect to this incident.

The destructive influence of these illegal organisations is well documented and the time has long since passed for them to set aside their weapons and end their criminal activities.

Quite clearly, those that sprayed this house with bullets had no regard whatsoever for anyone who was inside and as we know an unsuspecting woman, sitting in her own home as she is entitled to do, has been left with grave injuries.

The gunmen are extremely dangerous and continue to pose a threat to our society.

It is essentially they are swiftly apprehended and brought before the courts and anyone who can assist the police in this investigation must come forward as a matter of urgency.