07/12/2007

Four Now Held Over Derry Police Murder Bid

The police swooped on a number of locations yesterday and in seperate operations arrested a total of four suspects in their on-going investigation into the shooting of an off duty policeman in Londonderry last month.

A former local council election candidate was one of three men being initially being questioned about the attempted murder of the policeman.

Gary Donnelly – who stood as an independent republican candidate in the last election to Derry City Council – was among those still being held last night.

He was one of the initial three arrested during a major police operation in the city on Thursday morning, followed by the fourth arrest yesterday evening.

The investigation follows the shock incident when a 43-year-old officer was shot as he dropped his child off at school in Bishop Street on 8 November.

Despite injuries to his face and arm, the officer was able to drive to a nearby police station.

Police have said the three men are being questioned in connection with "serious terrorist crime".

A number of associated searches are also taking place in the city.

Last month's shooting in Derry was followed by one in Co Tyrone, which led to Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, the Assembly’s Deputy First Minister, to call for anybody with information about the shootings to bring it to the police.

Speaking at the time, the MLA said: "These people are attempting to plunge our society back into conflict."

The second shooting happened just hours after the 'Real IRA' admitted to the Derry shooting.

Detectives - who arrested two people soon after the Dungannon shooting - are also treating that shooting of the off-duty officer, who is in his early 30s, as attempted murder.

In that, later incident, the officer, who had just left work, was shot a number of times in an arm as he sat in his car at traffic lights.

He managed to drive back to Dungannon Police Station where he crashed into the front gates.

See: McGuinness Appeals For Information On Police Murder Bid



(BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 February 2014
Man Arrested In Bangor Shooting Investigation
A man has been arrested by detectives investigating the attempted murder of two men in Bangor. The male victims, aged 24 and 33, were shot as they sat in a car in the Eastway area of the Whitehill estate at about 00:45 on 10 February. UTV has reported that the UVF are thought to have been behind the attack.
23 February 2024
One Year On Since Attempted Murder Of DCI John Caldwell
The PSNI will "continue to relentlessly pursue those responsible" for the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said as he marked the first anniversary of the gun attack.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
24 October 2013
PSNI Appeal For Information About West Belfast Shooting
The PSNI have appeal for witnesses to or any one with any information about a shooting incident in west Belfast on Wednesday night. A man was shot in the leg at Creeslough Gardens at around 21:30 on Wednesday night. It is understood that victim is in his 40s and his injuries are not life threatening.
22 February 2024
Man Arrested In Connection With 1992 Police Officer Murder
A 59-year-old man has been arrested at Birmingham Airport in connection with a fatal mortar attack in Newry in 1992. The man was arrested on Wednesday, 21 February by detectives from PSNI's Legacy Investigation Branch, investigating the murder of Constable Colleen McMurray and the attempted murder of her colleague in 1992.