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Man shot dead in Northern Ireland Man shot dead in Northern Ireland
(about 3 hours later)
A man in his 40s has been shot dead in Northern Ireland, police say. Stunned neighbours of a man shot dead in Northern Ireland have spoken of their horror at the killing.
Detectives have launched a murder investigation after the man was attacked outside a house in Riverview Park in Ballymoney, County Antrim, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. The victim, in his 40s, was attacked outside a house in Riverview Park in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.
Det Ch Insp Richard Campbell said the incident happened just before 10.30pm on Monday. A woman was assaulted and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A woman inside the property was beaten and taken to hospital where she is being treated for injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
At least two children of primary school age may also have been in the white pebble-dashed bungalow at the time of the attack.
Locals said the dead man had only recently moved into the property and was not believed to be from the Ballymoney area. However, the woman had been living there with her family for some time.
DCI Richard Campbell said the incident happened just before 10.30pm on Monday.
A motive for the murder has not yet been established, however, police are hunting a number of men believed to be involved.
It is understood they forced their way into the property and first attacked the woman – a mother of four.
They then turned on the man, a father of five who has yet to be formally identified,. He was beaten and dragged outside the house where he was shot.
Ivy Owens, whose house backs on to the property where the murder happened, choked back emotions as she described hearing the shots.
She 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 of 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.
“I didn’t really think it was gunshots until I heard this morning. I am really shocked. It’s such a quiet place.”
Owens, who has lived in the area since 1997, said the shooting has left her scared. “Those children go to school with my children, so it is unreal and it does leave you frightened,” she added.
The cul-de-sac remains cordoned off with blue and white police tape. A number of police patrol cars are preventing members of the public from entering a large area.
Leslie Gregg, who has lived in Riverview Park for almost 20 years, said he was shocked by the shooting. “I think it is terrible news. For this to happen to any family is just terrible. I wouldn’t know the victim by name but I might know him to see. It is really shocking – just terrible, but these things do happen.
“We have been here almost 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened at all. It is normally a very quiet area.”
The shooting has been condemned by politicians on both sides of the sectarian divide. Mervyn Storey, DUP MLA for North Antrim, was at the scene on Tuesday morning and said the community had been left reeling by the shooting. He also appealed for anyone with information to contact police.
Sinn Féin’s Daithí McKay said the killers must be caught. “This murder is a terrible blow to the victim’s family and my thoughts are with them as they come to terms with this dreadful news.