Domestic row believed to have led to shooting
A domestic dispute is now thought to be the motive behind last night’s shooting at McSwiggan’s Bar in Newry, Co Down.
Two people were wounded in the attack, in which a lone gunman wearing a Halloween-style mask singled out a man drinking alone and opened fire. His victim, a 39-year-old local builder, was hit three times in the legs. A woman, aged 50, sitting nearby with her family, suffered slight ankle injuries.
Both victims were being treated in hospital last night. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Detectives believe paramilitary or drug involvement in the shooting is unlikely, although a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said all possible motives were still being investigated.
The attack has outraged public representatives in Down. The SDLP’s Dominic Bradley said: “I had hoped that we had put this type of incident behind us for all time.”
