THREE masked men shot a father-of-three in both legs in a punishment-style attack – while his wife and six-year-old son wept in the kitchen.
The incident happened at 11.30pm on Thursday at his home at Jamaica Court in Ardoyne, north Belfast.
A police spokesman said a motive for the shooting had not yet been established.
The victim – named locally as Gerard Maguire – was taken to the
Royal Victoria Hospital where his injuries were not believed to be life threatening.
Last night locals blamed the INLA for the attack and said: “The men went into the house and were going to shoot Gerard in front of his wife and son – then they pushed them screaming and crying into the kitchen. They were put through hell.”
However, last night a spokesman for the INLA denied responsibility for the shooting.
It was further claimed the CIRA were behind the attack.
Yesterday a spokesman for the hospital said Mr Maguire’s condition was “comfortable.”
Ardoyne priest the Rev Aidan Troy said he was in the emergency department of the Royal Victoria hospital in connection with another matter at the time the victim – who had been shot in both legs – was admitted.
He said there was a “huge amount of distress” with his wife and relatives very upset: “The victim is in his late 20s and married with three children.
“One of the children was in the house at the time of the shooting but she and her son were put out into another room, the kitchen, while her husband was shot.”
Fr Troy said like everyone else he thought the days of punishment shootings were over.
SDLP MLA for north Belfast, Alban Maginness, condemned the “horrific attack on a man in his own home in front of his wife and six-year-old child”.
He said: “This attack plumbs the depths of barbarism.
“I suspect there is paramilitary involvement in this but I cannot be sure what organisation is involved.
“I hope such a thing will not be repeated as we had hoped it never would.
“Unfortunately we are still suffering from the hangover of the Troubles and hopefully those responsible will be caught.
“Anyone with information about the incident should give it to the PSNI.”
Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan, said: “There is no support for this type of activity.
“If there are people alleging that any form of criminal activity is taking place they should take the information to the PSNI and have them deal with it,” she said.
