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Updated 8pm
A MAN HAS died following a shooting in north Belfast.
The attack happened shortly after 10pm last night at Butler Place, close to the Elmfield Street area of the city.
The 33-year-old, identified as husband and father Michael McGibbon, was shot three times in a leg in an alleyway.
He was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital but later died from his injuries.
The PSNI has asked for witnesses or anyone with information about this “heinous crime” to come forward.
In a statement this afternoon, PSNI Detective Superintendent John McVea said:
Michael was brutally and callously shot a number of times in the leg in an alleyway in a densely populated urban area. Despite the best efforts of his wife Joanne immediately after the attack, she was unable to save him and Michael tragically passed away following emergency surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The victim had no criminal record and no apparent criminal connections.
The PSNI has said that the attack bears the hallmarks of a paramilitary murder and that those who carried it out have no legitimacy within the community.
Thursday
Two men had called to Michael’s home on the evening of last Thursday 14 April, asking him to step outside, a statement from the force today said.
When he refused they said that they would return.
The first male is described as having been in his early twenties, slim and wearing a red hooded top with a baseball cap and a scarf over his face.
The other male is described as being in his late teens, with a grey hooded top, a baseball cap and a scarf over his face.
The PSNI has appealed for these men, or anyone who knows their identity, to come forward to allow them to be eliminated from the enquiry.
It has also said that other people in the area may have been visited in a similar fashion in the past weeks, and they should come forward if this is the case.
Anyone with any information about the incident can contact the non-emergency number on 101 or 048 90650222 from the Republic of Ireland.
Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.
- First published 9.25am
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Outstanding rescue by the crew of R116 in very difficult conditions. The winch man particularly went above and beyond. Well done !!
Apologies Rescue 118 not 116. My bad !
Rescue 118 from Sligo, Rescue 116 is Dublin.
Fair play to all involved in the rescue, especially since our coastguard service is voluntary.
Coastguard voluntary??.Are you getting mixed up with the RNLI?
Correct
So happy to hear he’s recovering well after being reported a critical yesterday. Glad that he was wearing a life jacket which may have helped save him. Well done to the coast guard and recovery team.
They could put the football team on that island.would not be missed.. Flash in the pan team! !
Well, now he knows what the lobsters feel like when he hauls them up….
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