Dissidents admit shooting man in legs
By Marie Louise McCrory West Belfast Correspondent
Irish News
16/01/09
DISSIDENT republican group Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) have admitted shooting a 21-year-old man in a paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast.
Jim Auld, director of Community Restorative Justice (CRJ), said the group contacted him to say they carried out the shooting in the Dungloe Crescent area of Lenadoon.
The shooting victim, who is from the Twinbrook area, was taken to nearby Lenadoon where he was shot in both legs at around 7.30pm on Wednesday.
A police spokeswoman said a motive for the attack had “yet to be established”.
The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) said last year that it considered ONH to be a “continuing and serious threat including to the lives of members of the security forces”.
The IMC said ONH members were “engaged in recruiting, training, targeting and the attempted procurement of weapons.
“Members were also involved in serious crime,” the report said.
SDLP assembly member for West Belfast Alex Attwood condemned the attack.
“This was a serious assault,” he said.
“It is clearly an attempt by those who wish to pose as ‘defenders of the community’ to gain influence and control. It must and will be resolutely opposed.
“West Belfast must not return to the dark days of punishment shootings and threats.
“The whole community needs to be vigilant and show their resolute opposition to those who would seek to drive us
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands