Pensioner shot five times by masked men

A man in his 70s has been shot five times in his arms and legs by masked men in Coleraine.

Police said they received a report of a shooting incident in Ballygallin Park in Ballysally in the County Londonderry town shortly after 19:50 GMT on Thursday.

A number of men, wearing balaclavas, were said to have broken into a property and attacked the man at his home, police said.

The man was taken to hospital for injuries including wounds to his head and torso, but police said his condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

"It is absolutely appalling that an elderly person should be attacked in their own home in this way," the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Insp Lavery said.

"There is no place in our society for vigilantism and we are fortunate that the outcome was not much more serious."

The senior police officer appealed for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell, said gun attacks may happen less frequently than in previous years but still bring "a fear and a concern" into the community.

"If armed men arrive in the dead of the night to a pensioner… and he ends up being shot, there is a fear it could happen elsewhere," he said.

"I think we need statements from the police about what they think was behind this, who they think was behind it and, of course, any information people can provide should be given to the police in order to bring those responsible to justice."

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member for East Londonderry, Cara Hunter, said she was "deeply disturbed" by the attack.

"Such senseless, savage violence should play no part in our society and this shooting has both shocked the local community and left people fearful," she said.

"Those responsible must be held to account and this dangerous weapon seized, and I urge anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI."

Independent MLA Claire Sugden said she was "horrified to hear of the attack".

"This is an area where families and older people live, they should not be feeling scared in their own homes due to senseless violence, which has no place in Northern Ireland today."

Alliance councillor Yvonne Boyle described the attack as "sickening".

"The local community is in complete shock following this incident," Boyle said.

"Those who carried it out do not represent anyone except themselves and their violence is not wanted in Coleraine or anywhere else."