Fear of more attacks
THE death of two people in a loyalist gun attack has
led to fears of a renewed sectarian murder campaign by
loyalists against the nationalist community.
The killers randomly opened fire on patrons in a
Catholic-owned bar in Poyntzpass near Newry in County
Armagh on Tuesday night.
The attack came within hours of an attempted sectarian
shooting near the County Antrim village of Toomebridge.
Two masked gunmen entered the Railway Bar in the
predominately nationalist village of Poyntzpass at
around 9.00pm on Tuesday.
They opened fire after ordering customers to lie on the
ground. One of the gunmen shouted ``get down you
bastards.'' Damien Trainor (26) and Philip Allen (34)
sustained multiple gunshot wounds. They were rushed to
Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry but medical teams were
unable to resuscitate either man. The two other
customers sustained gunshot wounds which were later
described as ``not life threatening'' by staff at
Craigavon Area Hospital.
The gunmen also fired at Bernadette Canavan, wife of
the owner, as she ran for cover. The getaway car used
by the killers was a white Ford Escort, registration
MIB 2980, stolen in the loyalist village of Dromore,
County Down. After the shooting the vehicle was found
abandoned on the Loughbrickland to Scarva Road.
The Railway Bar is owned by a brother of the local SDLP
Councillor Tom Canavan. The Canavan's are one of the
best known GAA families in County Armagh.
Those associated with the GAA have been targets for
numerous loyalist murders in recent months.
Both victims who died in the attack, Damien Trainor, a
Catholic and Philip Allen, a Protestant, have been
described as ``neighbours and good friends.'' They were
drinking together on the night of the fatal shooting.
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