Car found burnt out after gun attack on border hotel

The police initially said that three armed men wearing balaclavas arrived at a hotel in Main Street, Belleek, Co Fermanagh, shortly before 9.30am yesterday.

They later said that it is believed there were in fact four men.

It is understood the hotel in question was The Carlton.

The PSNI said that staff had been threatened, and that one shot was fired into the van of a contractor who was working there. There was no-one in the van at the time.

No-one sustained any injuries, police said. However, they added that “all involved are understandably shaken by today’s events”.

The men – who were all described as wearing dark coloured overalls with white stripes and balaclavas – then made off in the direction of the border in a black coloured Ford Escort car.

The PSNI said: “A car matching the description was discovered on fire a short time later in the Derrynacross Road area of Garrison where it is believed that the four males then left in a second unknown vehicle.

“Local officers are continuing to work closely with An Garda Siochana to trace their movements.”

In May 2013, the BBC reported that the hotel had been subject to an arson attack. The report added that it had been recently sold at auction, having closed in January of 2013.

Tom Elliott, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said: “Belleek is a quiet Fermanagh border village and this incident will have come as a complete shock to the local community.

“It is a reminder that we are still plagued by those who are intent on murder, attempted murder and disruption, and of dark days which we all want to put behind us.

“Bearing in mind the fact that the gang fled in the direction of the Republic, it is clear that this investigation will be a joint one between the PSNI and the Garda.”

The police appealed for anyone with information to contact them.