Shooting was a 'revenge attack'

Around 7pm on Monday night three masked men entered a house in the Kilwilkie Road area.

A man in his 20s was shot in the leg and assaulted with a bat. He was taken to hospital and his injuries were described as not life threatening.

Police described the incident as a paramilitary style attack and have appealed for information.

Sinn Fein MLA John O’ Dowd has said the people of Kilwilke have rejected those responsible for the shooting.

He said: "Those responsible for this shooting will no doubt attempt to claim they were serving the community and that they were protecting the community, none of these false claims will fool the community of Kilwilke

“This young man was shot because a so called dissident republican was in yet another fight, and the consequence of that is three masked men burst into a family home and shoot a young man.

“This was not about serving the community, protecting the community or acting in the absence of a policing service, as no doubt the attackers will attempt to claim.

"This shooting was about intimidation, revenge and an attempt to strike fear into the community in Kilwilke."

Mr O'Dowd added: "I would ask those members and supporters of these so called dissident organisations, is this what you signed up for, shooting members of the community because certain individuals cannot keep themselves out of trouble?"

The SDLP's Dolores Kelly said it was vital the community helped the police

The MLA said: "It is now clear that dissidents are engaged in a concerted effort to regain the sort of control that the Provos once exercised in working class nationalist areas.

"It's vitally important no one in what are often hard-pressed areas should provide even a shadow of justification for activities like these.

"There is no form of anti-social behaviour that excuses it and this is not the way to deal with crime, in fact it can only create a vacuum in which crime can flourish.

"We have a fully accountable police service to deal with criminals and they need our help in dealing with the criminals who carried out this shooting tonight."

Police have appealed for help. Anyone with information or who witnessed suspicious activity should contact police by calling 0845 600 8000, alternatively information about crime can be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.