IRA shoots Newry criminals
A spate of looting and intimidation of local people by a criminal
gang in Newry led to two of their members being shot by the IRA
last Sunday night.
In a statement South Down Oglaigh na hEireann said, ``IRA
Volunteers carried out the punishment shooting of two Newry men
on Sunday 13 July. Both men were part of a gang responsible for a
long series of anti-social activities and intimidation in the
Newry area culminating in the looting of the Buttercrane shopping
complex on 6/7 July.''
The gang has a history of criminal activity and intimidation in
the Newry area. They used the cover of nationalist protest
against the decision to force an Orange march down the Garvaghy
Road to launch a wave of looting and theft in Newry. Local people
who intervened were beaten and in one case a gun was held to the
head of a man who attempted to stop their anti-social behaviour.
In two incidents on Monday and Tuesday of this week two members
of Sinn Féin were shot in the legs. One is seriously ill in a
Belfast hospital. There were also a number of failed attacks on
Sinn Féin members.
In a statement on Wednesday Newry Sinn Féin Councillor Davy
Hyland said, ``Overnight there were a number of attacks on local
members of Sinn Féin. These attacks involved men with guns and
failed due to the vigilance and increased security of those that
were targeted. I am calling on the people involved in these
attacks to stop them immediately.''
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