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Ballymoney: Victim named as Brian McIlhagga | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The man who died in an overnight gun attack in Ballymoney, County Antrim, has been named by police as 42-year-old Brian McIlhagga. | |
The father-of-five, who was originally from Ballymena, was attacked by an armed gang outside a house at Riverview Park just before 22:30 GMT on Monday. | |
He had been beaten and shot once in the leg and died from his injuries. | |
A woman and four children under the age of 13 were in the house at the time. The woman was assaulted by the gang. | |
She was taken to hospital but her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. | |
Det Ch Insp Michael Harvey said the woman rang 999 to report that three masked and armed men forced their way into the house and assaulted her. | |
She said the gang forced her to lie on the kitchen floor. | |
The officer said the the men then took the victim to the front of the house, where they beat and shot him. | |
Justice Minister David Ford said the attack was "horrendous". | |
"Whoever carried this out must be condemned. There is no excuse for this kind of violence," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show. | "Whoever carried this out must be condemned. There is no excuse for this kind of violence," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show. |
"I understand there were children in the house as well. It is horrendous with absolutely no justification." | "I understand there were children in the house as well. It is horrendous with absolutely no justification." |
A woman, whose house backs on to the property where the murder happened, described hearing shots being fired. | A woman, whose house backs on to the property where the murder happened, described hearing shots being fired. |
Ivy Owens said: "I was lying with my daughter in bed in the back bedroom when I heard two almighty bangs, which I never thought, for one minute, were gunshots. | Ivy Owens said: "I was lying with my daughter in bed in the back bedroom when I heard two almighty bangs, which I never thought, for one minute, were gunshots. |
"I looked out the window to see if I could see or hear anything in my yard because it sounded so close. But I couldn't see anything. | "I looked out the window to see if I could see or hear anything in my yard because it sounded so close. But I couldn't see anything. |
"Moments later, my husband came home and then we saw lights (from emergency services) coming in but, again we didn't match the arrival of the lights with shots. | "Moments later, my husband came home and then we saw lights (from emergency services) coming in but, again we didn't match the arrival of the lights with shots. |
"I am really shocked. It's such a quiet place." | "I am really shocked. It's such a quiet place." |
Police officers have been examining the scene of the shooting. | Police officers have been examining the scene of the shooting. |
Leslie Gregg, who has lived in Riverview Park for almost 20 years, said he was shocked. | |
"For this to happen to any family is just terrible," he said. | "For this to happen to any family is just terrible," he said. |
"It is really shocking. We have been here almost 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened at all. It is normally a very quiet area. | "It is really shocking. We have been here almost 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened at all. It is normally a very quiet area. |
"I saw the blue lights of the (ambulance) response and the police come in along with them, so I thought to myself there must be something wrong." | "I saw the blue lights of the (ambulance) response and the police come in along with them, so I thought to myself there must be something wrong." |
Beth McCracken, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said: "It's not often there is so much activity about here. It is normally very quiet. It was a shock this morning. To have something like that come to your doorstep is unbelievable. | Beth McCracken, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said: "It's not often there is so much activity about here. It is normally very quiet. It was a shock this morning. To have something like that come to your doorstep is unbelievable. |
"This fella is not long here and apparently he is not from here." | "This fella is not long here and apparently he is not from here." |
DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said the attack was "very sad news". | DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said the attack was "very sad news". |
"A family has been devastated and a lady is in hospital," he said. | "A family has been devastated and a lady is in hospital," he said. |
"It is in a very quiet residential area of Ballymoney. I have no doubt this will send shock through the community." | "It is in a very quiet residential area of Ballymoney. I have no doubt this will send shock through the community." |
Darryl Wilson, a local Ulster Unionist councillor, said: "Ballymoney, in general, is a very quiet little town. | Darryl Wilson, a local Ulster Unionist councillor, said: "Ballymoney, in general, is a very quiet little town. |
"The Riverview Park area is no exception. It is a very close-knit community. It is quite shocking for something like this to happen. People are shocked and stunned." | "The Riverview Park area is no exception. It is a very close-knit community. It is quite shocking for something like this to happen. People are shocked and stunned." |
Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay said the murder was "a terrible blow to the victim's family". | Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay said the murder was "a terrible blow to the victim's family". |
"Those behind this murder need to be taken off the streets and anyone with any information on this attack should bring it immediately to the PSNI," he said. | "Those behind this murder need to be taken off the streets and anyone with any information on this attack should bring it immediately to the PSNI," he said. |
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. | Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. |