‘Criminals masquerading as republicans should get off the backs of Currynierin community’ - Jackson

Armed men who fired shots in the Currynierin area at the weekend have been condemned.

Footage emerged on social media of three masked men taking part in a so-called ‘show of strength’ in the estate on Sunday night.

The footage shows three masked men armed with handguns and an automatic weapon. Two of the men are holding a flag with Oglaigh na hÉireann wrote on it.

Police are investigating the incident.

As a line of enquiry, into the report made shortly before 11pm on Sunday, January 11 detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Serious Crime Branch made an arrest and seized a vehicle on Tuesday, January 13 when a 31-year-old man was arrested following a search of a property in the Claudy area and subsequently released on bail to allow for further police enquiries to be conducted.

Police continue to conduct reassurance patrols of the area and, as part of the police investigation, enquiries also include vehicle check points, house-to-house enquiries and checking CCTV.

Today, separately, Thursday, January 15 police received a report of a video circulating of shots being fired, and are making enquiries in relation to this to establish if it is linked to the report made on Sunday, January 11.

Police are appealing to anyone with information, or who may have relevant footage, to contact them on 101, quoting reference 1489 of 11/01/26 or reference 191 of 15/01/26.

Information can also be provided online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Local Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson described the masked men as "criminals masquerading as republicans".

Cllr Jackson said: “Those responsible for this are nothing more than criminals masquerading as republicans.

“They have nothing to offer the people of this area but fear and intimidation and should get off the backs of the local community.

“I have been inundated with concerns from local residents who are angered because these people in no way reflect them or their estate.

“What is even more frustrating is the fact that the council is on the verge of securing significant new investment in Currynierin to improve the lives of the people who live there.

“We won’t allow those with a destructive agenda to derail that work but it also underlines the stark contrast between those who want Currynierin to thrive and those who want to drag it back to the past.”

SDLP Waterside councillor Sean Mooney condemned masked gunmen who fired shots in the Currynerin area of Derry on Sunday night.

Cllr Mooney said: “These were disgraceful scenes that have no place in our communities. They hark back to our dark past and the people of the Currynerin area do not want to see this kind of incident on their doorsteps.

“Footage of masked gunmen firing shots has understandably caused fear and concern across the area and the wider city. Those involved have nothing to offer our community and will not be allowed to intimidate people who are simply trying to get on with their lives.

“The presence of a firearm is deeply worrying and it is vital that it is taken off our streets before anyone is seriously hurt. I would urge anyone with information to come forward to the police so those responsible can be held accountable.”