28/09/2009
Ballymena Loyalist Feuding Erupts
Armed police were deployed in Ballymena at the weekend, after a contentious family feud resulted in a gun attack.
Part of the loyalist Ballykeel estate was sealed off by officers, following reports shots had been fired at a house on Orkney Drive. Armed response teams were backed up a search helicopter, amid fears the violence may escalate.
It is believe trouble flared when an ongoing feud between rival families erupted.
DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jr appealed for calm in the area.
"I'm calling for calm between those who've been involved in what is very clearly a dispute between a number of rival families," he told the BBC.
"I think there has to be calm at this point and there has to be a recognition that gun law will not resolve any problem in Northern Ireland.
"What we need to do is sit down and resolve a dispute that has been building for some time - we could have had people killed over the last few days."
No one was injured in the attack, and police made no arrests.
(PR/GK)
Part of the loyalist Ballykeel estate was sealed off by officers, following reports shots had been fired at a house on Orkney Drive. Armed response teams were backed up a search helicopter, amid fears the violence may escalate.
It is believe trouble flared when an ongoing feud between rival families erupted.
DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jr appealed for calm in the area.
"I'm calling for calm between those who've been involved in what is very clearly a dispute between a number of rival families," he told the BBC.
"I think there has to be calm at this point and there has to be a recognition that gun law will not resolve any problem in Northern Ireland.
"What we need to do is sit down and resolve a dispute that has been building for some time - we could have had people killed over the last few days."
No one was injured in the attack, and police made no arrests.
(PR/GK)
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