Londonderry: Police defend response to shots fired at republican mural

The incident took place near a mural of former INLA prisoner Michael Devine in the Galliagh area of Derry

Police have defended their response to shots being fired by two masked men before a commemoration in Londonderry.

The incident took place in front of a mural of INLA hunger striker Michael Devine on Friday in the Galliagh area,

Footage of the incident was widely circulated on social media and unionist politicians have demanded a full investigation.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson described it as a "disgraceful display of terrorism".

He said he he had spoken to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne and was told the incident was "under active police investigation".

PSNI Supt Catherine Magee confirmed there were officers in the area when masked men fired shots into the air.

'Came out of the shadows'

"On this occasion unfortunately we were not able to provide the response to prevent it from taking place but we will have a strong and robust criminal justice strategy to follow it up," Supt Magee told BBC Radio Foyle.

"We do not discuss intelligence, however it was my working assumption that there was a possibility that there may be an intent to do something of that nature based on previous experience in the city."

In May shots were fired at a commemoration event in the Bishop Street area of Derry.

Supt Magee added that, because of that intelligence, there was "a significant police operation in place".

"I had my local neighbourhood police officers, who routinely patrol Galliagh every day of the week, they were out on the ground engaging with local residents and providing high visibility local support.

"I also had Tactical Support Group (TSG) units available and also patrolling in the area as well".

She added: "We need to bear in mind this was an incident that took place over 30 seconds to one minute, where a small group of masked people came out of the shadows, quickly fired off two weapons, and disappeared quickly back into the estate.

'Completely unacceptable'

"It is challenging to balance the requirements and needs of the community to have a commemoration and to try and have a policing operation that enables us to respond.

"We weren't on top of the commemoration event as it was happening, as you might imagine that in itself might create community tension."

She said the incident was "completely unacceptable".

"I understand we are in a post conflict society but there must absolutely be other ways to show respect.

"We want to work with communities to support events where people can show respect but we also need people to understand that any incident that brings police into contact with armed individuals can increase the risk to communities and members of the public who happen to be there."

Not a good look for the PSNI

Police knew in advance that this commemoration event was scheduled to take place and that there was a real possibility of firearms being produced.

This is not a good look for the PSNI given that the service has had to previously defend itself from a constant unionist political onslaught believing that they are soft of these sort of events.

Last year, the DUP wrote to the PSNI outlining at least a dozen republican funerals and other events at which there was little to no police presence on the day.

The police then launched follow up investigations to these events were they admitted to the party that little headway had been made.

It does perhaps feed into an ongoing narrative that the police allow these events to take place and then mount follow-up investigations.

It is debatable, certainly based on recent evidence, whether these investigations then amount to much.

'Abhorrent'

Speaking earlier to BBC's Good Morning Ulster, UUP councillor Ryan McCready described the incident as "totally unacceptable in today's society".

"Brandishing and discharging firearms in the street is abhorrent and I really do wish we could get beyond this as a society were it is not seen as normal," Mr McCready added.

The Derry City and Strabane District councillor, who is also a former Royal Irish Regiment soldier, said what really upset him was that "people clapped and applauded" the masked men.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney told the programme that the scenes witnessed "were not reflective of the wider Galliagh community".

"These should be scenes of the past," Mr Tierney added.