Shooting victim pleaded guilty to drug possession and supply charges

The man who was shot in the latest apparent dissident republican attack has been named as a defendant in a drug case.
Police at the scene in Magowan Park, Creggan, Londonderry yesterday after a man was shot twice in the legPolice at the scene in Magowan Park, Creggan, Londonderry yesterday after a man was shot twice in the leg
Police at the scene in Magowan Park, Creggan, Londonderry yesterday after a man was shot twice in the leg

The victim of the Monday night shooting was Londonderry man Harry Boyle, 25, who it has emerged was due to appear in court on Tuesday.

He was shot in the leg in the republican Creggan area in the west of the city, and was initially described as “critical”.

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On Tuesday evening, his condition was described as “stable”, and had been moved from Altnagelvin to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

His shooting came only three days after a similar incident in Belfast, when Michael McGibbon was shot in the legs in the republican Ardoyne district of the city.

Mr McGibbon had been tended to by his own wife, a nurse, but died as a result of his injuries. Police said he had no criminal convictions or associations.

The latest victim had pleaded guilty to a number of drugs-related charges last month.

Mr Boyle plans to contest two other charges.

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He was due in court for a short ‘mention’ hearing on Tuesday in Crown Court in Londonderry.

The trial concerning the two drug charges was due to begin on April 25.

It is now expected that a short hearing will be held on May 4.

The charges which he had admitted on March 11 were:

Being concerned in offering to supply class A drugs (namely fentanyl, described by US authorities as a “powerful synthetic opiate”, akin to morphine but even more powerful), and being concerned in offering to supply class C drugs (namely diazepam, used for treating anxiety).

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He had also pleaded guilty to possession of class B drugs – Alpha-PVP, fluoromethcathinone, and herbal cannabis.

The first two appear to be stimulant-type drugs.

The charges he is contesting are possession of Alpha-PVP and fluoromethcathinone with intent to supply.

The Court Service lists his most recent address as being Ballymagowan Park.

Police said he had been shot twice in the right leg shortly before 9pm in Magowan Park .

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The PSNI had described it as “a brutal attack on a young man” which bore all the hallmarks of a “paramilitary-style attack”, with dissident republicans being suspected.

Superintendent Mark McEwan, Londonderry’s district commander said: “Those who are involved in paramilitary style attacks do not represent the interests of any community nor contribute anything to it. They prey on the community and have no legitimacy in dealing with perceived unlawful behaviour or misdemeanours.”

He called on any “right-minded member of society” who has information to bring it forward.