Londonderry: Musician's warning after being shot with pellet gun

Police in Londonderry have said they are aware of incidents in the city's centre in which pellet guns are used to attack people

Police in Londonderry have said they are aware of incidents in the city centre in which pellet guns have been used to attack people.

On Saturday night, a man was shot in the ear by what was believed to be a pellet gun.

His friend said he was also targeted a short time later.

The victim told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that he understood it was becoming a common problem at weekends.

Musician Thomas Sweeney and his band mates were packing equipment into their van following a gig when a car drove past them on Foyle Street.

He said a pellet gun was aimed at him from the car's window.

"I just felt this excuciating pain in my right ear" - Thomas Sweeney

"I just felt this excruciating pain on my right ear," he said.

"I wasn't sure what had actually happened initially. But one of the friends who was with me says, 'you just got shot with a pellet gun'."

Mr Sweeney said he could hear the "click click" of the pellet gun as the car passed, while one of his friends saw the weapon being aimed at him.

He said that a short time later, a friend he was with saw a pellet gun being used to target him from a different car.

While his friend's clothing protected him, he spoke to the car's occupants, informing them that he would be contacting the police.

'Potentially life-altering'

Mr Sweeney said he was "not looking for sympathy" but wanted to raise awareness before someone got seriously hurt.

"I just can't believe that someone would fire it [a pellet gun] and also then point it at your head. I mean, what are they thinking?

"It might sound funny to people but I am just so thankful that I wasn't facing that car, because if that pellet had hit me in the eye I have no doubt that it could potentially have been life-altering.

"I would say it was about a foot-and-a-half, two feet away from me when it was discharged."

He said police have told him they are treating the incident very seriously.

"If people are driving around Derry city centre at weekends shooting out windows, then something needs done as soon as possible," he added.

Mr Sweeney says the incident happened on Foyle Street, in Derry city centre

A police spokesperson told BBC Radio Foyle that they were aware of similar incidents in the city over recent weeks "involving what has been reported as pellet guns" - warning that they can cause serious injury.

A PSNI spokesperson added: "The use of BB/pellet guns in a public place can create a nuisance and could constitute offences in certain circumstances, including causing an injury or damage to property.

"Although a BB/pellet gun is legal to sell, purchase and possess - and a firearm licence is not required - owners have a responsibility to use them safely."