I’ll meet those carrying out attacks, says priest
NEIGHBOURS of an 18-year-old shot in both arms and legs have expressed their shock at the brutal paramilitary-style attack.
Police are investigating the attack at a house on Moneycannon Road in Ballymoney in the early hours of yesterday.
The injured teen was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening.
PSNI Inspector Vince Redmond said that the victim had been shot four times, once in each arm and leg, at around 3.30am by unknown intruders.
He added: “Our enquiries are at a very early stage into what was a brutal attack on a young man in his home by dangerous and violent individuals, and I would ask anyone with any information which could assist us to apprehend those responsible to contact detectives.”
One neighbour, who has lived in the area for 40 years, said he was “totally shocked that the attack was so brutal”.
“This is a peaceful farming community,” he added.
“Nothing like that has ever happened here.
“I’ll have to think about putting in security cameras after this. People in rural areas normally feel a bit safer, you don’t expect something like that to happen on your doorstep.
“I hope they are caught. You don’t want people like that roaming around.”
Another neighbour said: “Everyone is very shocked, especially when you have kids. “People are very scared.” Between September 2017 and August 2018 there were 19 people injured in paramilitary-style shootings compared with 24 the previous year.
There were 54 people injured in paramilitary-style assaults in the same period, compared with 76 the previous year.
North Antrim TUV MLA Jim Allister said the “vicious attack” in Ballymoney showed “the real and brutal face of paramilitarism”.
He added: “Paramilitaries who think and act above the law must be brought to book for such excesses.
“There should be no room in our society for self-appointed enforcers and their weapons of death and destruction. I urge anyone with relevant information to provide it to the PSNI.”
SDLP MLA John Dallat said it was “time for the authorities to dispel the notion that democracy A PRIEST has offered to meet those responsible for yesterday’s paramilitary-style attack in Ballymoney — and says there must be a “zero tolerance” approach towards such incidents by the Churches and the community.
Father Martin Magill (below) of the #StopAttacks group, which aims to eradicate paramilitary justice, extended the invitation having witnessed the “physical and psychological trauma” he says such incidents inflict.
The parish priest of St John’s Church on Belfast’s Falls Road called for an end to such attacks by those who act as “self-appointed judge, jury and executioner”.
“I am looking for zero tolerance to these attacks from the churches and community,” he said.
“#StopAttacks is a coalition which is calling for an end to vigilante-style justice, and some of us would be willing to
and paramilitary gangs can coexist”.
He added: “They can’t, and those who think this is possible are only deluding themselves and doing nobody any favours.
“This latest paramilitary-style shooting involving an 18-year-old in Ballymoney shows once again that proscribed groups are operating in open defiance of law and meet those involved in this attack.
“I would want to listen to start with, to find out why they are doing this.
“I’m going to work on the basis that they want the best for the local community, and that in some strange, warped sort of way they feel under pressure to act like this.
“But there are so many alternatives and creative ways, better ways of dealing with issues, rather than people taking the law into their own hands.
“I have spoken to victims over the past 20 or 30 years and they are still living with the physical and psychological scars.
“It also has a traumatic knockon effect on children, so the cycle of trauma repeats itself.
“These attacks have been going on for about 50 years, and it is time for them to stop.” Fr Magill said that local Churches
order. All elected representatives should be screaming from the rooftops about this lawlessness and stand up for those who are the real peace builders.
“To me it is a great disappointment that 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement we still have people wearing masks and carrying guns to mutilate people. That cannot go on. I would must “give a lead” whenever such attacks occur.
“There have been some quite cynical comments online in the wake of this, with people saying that there must have been some reason for it,” he added.
“That is far from showing Christian compassion, it’s very judgmental.
“I don’t use the words ‘punishment attacks’, as that indicates that they are justified.
“These things are happening quite regularly now, and I’m shocked to see the amount of silence around it.
“There is fear, but it’s important we stand together.”
Rev Stephen Woods of Ballymoney Methodist Church said that the “brutal and despicable act” had “no place in any civil society”.
He said: “I’m sure I speak for all our local Church leaders in saying that these vigilante attacks need to be condemned and challenged
encourage any individual intimidated or frightened by these socalled ‘brigadiers’ to go to the police and seek their assistance.”
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said that “this scourge on our society must be addressed”.
He said: “There can be no acceptance for such attacks. Paramilitary assaults and coercive control must always be challenged. by all members of our community. I would appeal to anyone with information about this attack to support and assist police in their investigation.”
Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Route Presbytery, Rev Noel McClean, said: “None of us want this kind of incident in our community whatsoever. It is important that we join with others in condemning horrific attacks like this.
“Such attacks on the young or old alike had no place in our past and certainly have no place in our future. We would encourage anyone with information to contact the police service.”
Chair of Ballymoney Churches Forum Patricia Crossley expressed “disgust” at the attack, and said that “there can be no justification whatsoever for any individual or groups to take upon themselves the right to administer such summary injustice”.
Those with knowledge behind this and other similar brutal and vile attacks need to come forward and provide information to the police.
“Far too often, those responsible for such attacks escape justice and there is a sense of impunity to their actions. It is important all stakeholders support the implementation of the Paramilitary Action Plan and the work of the PSNI’s Paramilitary Taskforce, and stress the importance of effective policing in the community and the development of a culture of lawfulness.”
Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan said there was no justification for the attack, which was “quite clearly carried out by loyalist paramilitaries”.
He added: “In fact this is just the latest of many attacks, resulting in death and serious injuries, close to Ballymoney, carried out by loyalists. There needs to be firm action by the PSNI to halt these attacks and bring those responsible to justice.”
UUP councillor Darryl Wilson described the incident as “particularly brutal”.
“Now is the time to engage with the local community and the PSNI to take a long, hard and honest look at why these attacks are continuing,” he said.
“Community activists and civic leaders have a duty to ask questions as to why certain individuals feel the need to take the law into their own hands and what can be done to eradicate anti-social behaviour at its very core.
“I would urge anyone with any information to come forward to the PSNI as soon as possible.”
Detectives at Coleraine can be contacted on 101, quoting reference number 324 23/09/18. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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