Politicians condemn gun attack on popular student bar

Politicians have condemned a gun attack on a popular student bar in Belfast’s city centre.

The condemnation follows news of shots being fired at Lavery’s bar in Bradbury Place on Sunday 7th October around 8pm. No-one was hurt in the attack, in which police say a shotgun was fired at the front of the pub from a passing car.

Assembly member for South Belfast Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP) said the gun attack was a serious and worrying development. Mr McDonnell said: “Sunday night’s attack on Lavery’s was an extremely worrying development. Lavery’s is an institution in Belfast and is frequented by the people from all sections of the community. It is generally full of students and other young people, and it is miraculous that there were no fatalities. The scum who carried out this attack must be swiftly brought to justice.”

South Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Alex Maskey has maintained that the loyalist paramilitary group, the UDA, were responsible for the attack at the weekend. He said: “This area attracts many nationalists to its restaurants and bars and has a high student population. I would call upon all nationalists to be vigilant. The Secretary of State’s climb down in the face of the UDA violence has given new momentum to that organisation. The UDA in south Belfast are using this to their full advantage in upping the ante against the nationalist population.” (AMcE)