Shots fired at house after ‘fisticuffs’, MLA claims

Police said detectives in Larne are investigating the shooting, which was reported at approximately 10.45am by a man who said he had found what he believed to be a bullet hole in the window of his property. The man reported hearing what he believed was the sound of a gun shot at approximately 2.15am.

Three strike marks were discovered at the front of the property. No one was injured in the incident.

The PSNI appealed for anyone with information to contact CID in Larne Police Station on 0845 600 8000 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sinn Fein MLA for East Antrim, Oliver McMullan, said: “My information is that this started with fisticuffs and later these shots were fired as a warning. I hate to say it, but yet again it has been done the Larne way, which for a certain element seems to mean bringing out guns to settle a dispute. There was a similar incident in the same area not that long ago.”

Mr McMullan added: “It’s pure gangsterism and a monkey on the back of the people of Larne, who deserve better. It’s holding the town back in terms of investment and jobs because of the image it gives the town.”

DUP councillor Drew Niblock urged anyone with information to contact the police. He added: “This has happened at a time when the district policing partnership and community safety partnership have come to an end and the policing and community safety partnership that is to replace them is still some time away from being convened.

“Council representatives on the new body have been nominated, but as I understand it, members of the public who were interviewed have still to be notified.

“It leaves those local community leaders who attended DPP and CSP meetings in a state of limbo and underlines the concern that the PCSP is not up and running now that the other bodies have gone.”