Four quizzed after mum is terrorised at gunpoint in her home

FOUR men were being questioned yesterday after a gang threatened a young woman in her Londonderry home.

Two men, one armed with a suspected gun, are understood to have confronted the woman, who is in her 20s, at the house in Hollymount Park before making off in a white Kia Sportage car to the West Bank of the city.

Police intercepted a car in the Cecilia’s Walk area of the cityside and arrested four men aged 21, 25, 31 and 34.

Yesterday, Inspector Vince Redmond said: “We received a report shortly after 6.30am this morning that two masked men, one armed with a suspected firearm, forced entry to a house in the area.

“One of the males entered and threatened the female occupant before leaving the house on foot with the second male, then making off from the area in a white vehicle.

“Officers responded immediately to this report and as a result of their enquiries located a white Kia Sportage in the Cecilia’s Walk area and arrested four men aged 21, 25, 31 and 34 on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

“All four men are currently in custody where they are assisting officers with their enquiries.”

While investigations are still at an early stage, some people living in the area have voiced concern and speculation of dissident republican involvement.

One woman commented: “I was really shocked when I heard about this.

“I know the wee girl who lives there to see but I’ve never really spoken to her.

“I think she has two young children which makes it all the more frightening to think someone with a gun would go into a house where wee children lived.

“She must have been terrified, imagine finding two men in your home at that time of the morning but I suppose we have to thank God no one was hurt.”

“Hollymount is a quiet enough area, I know the police have been warning about houses being broken into but I don’t know if this is what this was or if they were looking for someone,” the resident speculated.

Another neighbour added: “It takes some kind of big men to go into a house, where a wee girl in her 20s lives, with a gun and threaten her.”

“I’m not sure what exactly this was all about, and if she was the person they were looking, for but it’s not right either way,” they speculated.

The woman who lives at the address wasn’t at home yesterday but forensics officers were there, continuing their investigation.

Local SDLP Councillor Martin Reilly asked anyone with information to get in contact with the police. He added: “This must have been a frightening experience for this woman and I would appeal to anyone who has information that would be useful to the police to contact them.”

Police are appealing for anyone who was in Hollymount Park or Cecilia’s Walk and who noticed a white Kia Sportage car early yesterday morning to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 444 02/12/18 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.