Updated 3.48 pm
A MAN WAS murdered in Co Antrim last night after he was dragged from a house by a masked gang and beaten before being shot.
The man, who is named as 42-year-old Brian McIlhagga, was visiting a female friend at her house at Riverview Park in the town of Ballymoney when the fatal attack took place.
The 32-year-old woman was at home with her four children when at least three armed and masked men burst into the house. The woman was assaulted in the kitchen and forced to lie on the floor.
The PSNI say McIlhagga was then dragged from the kitchen, down the hallway and out through the front door of the house.
“He was beaten and then shot once in the leg outside the house. Tragically, he died at the scene as a result of the injuries inflicted during the attack,” Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey said this afternoon.
Although McIlhagga has not been formally identified, police say that that the father of five was from Ballymena and worked as a plasterer. A post-mortem is due to take place later today.
Detective Harvey said that the attack is “unusual for a town like Ballymoney” adding that the community is shocked by what happened.
The alarm was raised last night when the woman rang 999 at about 10.30 pm.
Police are appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything in the Riverview Park area around this time to contact them on the non-emergency 101 number or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Additional reporting by Daragh Brophy
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