Derry murder bid
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, gunmen wearing balaclavas burst
into the home of Anthony and Francis Creane at Garvagh Court,
Caw, Waterside as the two brothers sat watching the all-Ireland
hurling quarter finals.
Frankie Creane, 58, grabbed for a club which one of the loyalists
held. During the struggle which ensued another loyalist put a gun
to his temple. Just before the trigger was pulled, Creane managed
to duck his head, narrowly cheating instant death.
Frankie Creane was shot in the leg while another gunman rushed
into another room to shoot Anthony Creane, 53, three times in the
upper legs and groin, before making a getaway.
By the time the brothers arrived at nearby Altnagelvin
Hospital.Anthony Creane had to resuscitated and then transferred
to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he remains in
critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit following lengthy
surgery.
Appealing for no retaliation for this attack, niece Jackie Lyon
said she didn't understand why her uncles had been singled out,
as they were quiet men who were totally uninvolved with anything
religious or political. ``You never expect it to come to your own
door'', she said adding that her uncles did not plan to return to
their home.
Extending sympathy and support to the Creane family, SF Deputy
Mayor Lynn Fleming said: ``Last night's attack would appear to be
the work of loyalists and the RUC should state publicly which
organisation they believe to be responsible.
``Catholic families living in mixed estates in the Waterside have
long been targeted for harassment, intimidation and violence. I
would appeal to unionist leaders in the city to use their
influence to bring such sectarian attacks to an immediate end.''
This Derry bid bore the hallmarks of others organised by The
Committee overseeing the loyalist assassination campaign for the
past number of years- no crown forces were seen in the area
during or after the shooting until ample time for a successful
getaway, despite the near-by Lisnagelvin RUC Barracks. No one has
been arrested for the shooting.
On the day after the attack in the Waterside UDP Chairperson
David Nicholl warned that Catholics put their lives at risk by
living in such areas. Declining to comment on whether the UDA was
responsible for shooting the brothers, Nicholl said: ``I am very
concerned about Catholics living in mixed communities in the
Waterside. I have to urge them to consider these grave threats
with due seriousness. I can't guarantee their future well-being.
This grim Get Out or Die message by the leader of an organisation
seen as speaking for the UDA, is directly linked to the Drumcree
campaign and the coming 8 August Apprentice Boys march.
Against the backdrop of the three children murdered in
Ballymoney, it is once again clear that Catholics in vulnerable
areas will be held hostage against nationalists elsewhere
standing up for their basic civil rights.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)