Police find no evidence to back up shooting claims

POLICE have found no evidence to back up claims that shots were fired in Aghyaran last December, it has emerged.

An investigation had been launched after the PSNI received a report of a shooting in the Corgary Road area at around 9.10pm on December 8. At the time of the alleged incident, the police stated that “no injuries were reported”.

Last month, Sinn Féin pressed the police for clarity over their ongoing investigation after it emerged republicans were being blamed for the incident online.

In a recent response sent to Sinn Féin West Tyrone MLA, Maolíosa McHugh, the PSNI stated that “extensive enquiries” had been made following a report of an incident in the Corgary Road area on December 8.

The statement then added, “We have found no evidence of shots being fired.”
Having finally received the clarification he had sought, Mr McHugh said he was “very disappointed” it had not have come sooner.

The MLA said, “Because this was so drawn-out it allowed speculation and serious accusations to be made on social media of a sectarian nature. It also allowed the finger to be pointed at republicans for a shooting incident the PSNI are now claiming did not even occur.”

Mr McHugh added, “The lack of clarity also did nothing to ease the minds of the good people of Aghyaran who were fearful and concerned of what had happened within their community.”