WATCH: Police believe at least three men involved in ‘vile’ and ‘callous’ house shooting

by Q Radio News

At least three men were involved in a shooting at a house in Coleraine which left a 61-year-old woman fighting for her life, a detective has said.

The victim was found unconscious in the house on the Bushmills Road on Monday night after being struck in the head by one of a number of bullets fired at the property.

PSNI detective chief inspector Dunny McCubbin said they are working to establish a motive for the “vile attack”.

He said they have not ruled out that the woman had not been the intended target, and that one of the lines of inquiry is that paramilitaries may have been involved.

The house was described as “known to police”.

Last month, a 21-year-old woman was found dead at the same property. An investigation into that death continues.

Detective chief inspector McCubbin said the incident on Monday night was attempted murder.

“Shortly before midnight police received reports of a number of shots being fired in the area and officers subsequently discovered a woman lying unconscious inside her Bushmills Road home, a place where she should have been safe,” he said.

“The gunmen fired multiple shots at the front and back of the house, and at least one of these bullets struck the victim’s head. They fired through numerous windows indiscriminately, not knowing where the lethal bullets would end up. This clearly highlights the blatant disregard these criminal gangs have for their own community.

“I believe that three or more men were responsible for this callous attack, and also that there may be two different types of firearms used.

“I am appealing to local people to bring information to the police in order to stop them from causing further harm to this community.

“I am keen to hear from anyone who saw a group of men wearing hooded tops and light coloured clothes who were seen shortly before the attempted murder running across Bushmills Road from a laneway leading from Millburn.

“Three men were then seen walking and running up a lane from the Bushmills Road house.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who saw a light, possibly grey coloured saloon car with a dark sunroof in the vicinity.”

Police and forensic officers were at the scene throughout the early hours of this morning.

The front window of a property has also been smashed with enquiries expected to continue throughout Tuesday.

Independent MLA Claire Sugden condemned those behind the shooting.

Sinn Fein's East Derry-Londonderry MLA Caoimhe Archibald says the incident is 'reckless'.

“I condemn those responsible for a gun attack at a house in the Bushmills Road area of Coleraine which has left a woman in her 60s in a critical condition in hospital," she said.

“No one wants to see reckless and very dangerous incidents like this in Coleraine.

“I have spoken to the PSNI about this incident this morning.

“Those responsible have nothing to offer society and need to be taken off the streets and anyone with information on what happened should bring it forward to the PSNI.”

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell condemned the shooting.

“There will be fear and shock among all age groups, but especially amongst those in the older community and there will be anger of course that something like this can happen,” he told the BBC.

Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald added: “No-one wants to see reckless and very dangerous incidents like this in Coleraine.

“Those responsible have nothing to offer society and need to be taken off the streets and anyone with information on what happened should bring it forward to the PSNI.”

Anyone with information is is asked to contact police in Coleraine by calling 101, quoting reference 2174 05/10/20 or use the PSNI’s non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/