Newtownabbey: Loyalists suspected of shooting woman

Two masked men, one with a handgun, forced their way into the home of a 47-year-old female in the Ballyronan Park area around 7.45 pm on Sunday.

On Monday there were bullet holes in the windows of the house.

Two other men who were also in the house tried to escape, as did the woman. However, her attackers shot her in both legs outside the house as she attempted to flee.

One of the men, aged 40, also suffered minor injuries to his legs and chin as result of being assaulted at the scene.

The woman was taken to hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: “I think it is barbaric, you know it was a gross violation of human rights.

“No process, no legal system, no rules of evidence, no human rights at all. Just people acting probably on rumour, gossip, innuendo, turn up at a woman’s house, invade her privacy, and shoot her in the legs.

“Since 1990 we have only had four females shot in what one could describe as paramilitary-type shootings. The other three were carried out by loyalist paramilitaries and obviously the one last night a key line of inquiry is loyalist paramilitaries again,” he told UTV.

SDLP North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness said that the shooting was a sickening and vile attack.

“For anyone to so viciously and callously inflict gunshot wounds on anyone is totally abhorrent,” he said.

“But to shoot a woman as she flees her home for safety is sickening and vile.

“Those behind this have committed an unspeakably cruel crime and must be brought to justice.

“I would encourage anyone with any information to speak to police in Newtownabbey as soon as possible.”

Detective Inspector David Skelly said: “I appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident or has any information to contact detectives at Newtownabbey on the non-emergency number 101, or if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”