Taxi Driver Online

‘Disgraceful’: Taxi driver hospitalised after being shot through car window outside west Belfast depot

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 92487.html



Emergency services are at the scene of a shooting in west Belfast.

The man was sat in a taxi when he was shot in the Bell Steel Manor area of the city shortly before 10.30am on Sunday.

It is understood the man was the driver of the taxi.

Armed response teams were sent to Poleglass shortly after the incident and they remain at the scene.

Cordons are in place in the area and road users are advised the Bell Steel Road, close to the junction of Laurelbank, is currently closed. One man has been taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker is urging people to avoid the area.

"There has been a serious incident on the Bell Steel Road in Poleglass this morning and there is a heavy police presence in the area,” he said.

“I am on the ground talking to police and community representatives.

“Sally Gardens remains open, although I would ask people to avoid the area if possible as police cordons will remain in place for a while yet.”

SDLP West Belfast councillor Paul Doherty said: “This shooting is a disgraceful act of violence that will have caused serious worry in this community. I have engaged with police following this attack and welcome their response to this incident.

“There is no place for this kind of violence on our streets and the use of a firearm in this attack is also very concerning.

“I would urge people to avoid this area while police carry out their investigation and to come forward to police with any information so those behind this shooting can be apprehended and this weapon seized before causing harm to anyone else.”

People Before Profit councillor Michael Collins said he was “shocked and angered” following the incident.

"There is no support for this kind of violence from any section of the community,” he said.

"The news today comes as a shock to the good people of Poleglass who want no truck with the paramilitary violence of the past.

"These kind of actions destroy families and only serve to drag working class communities backwards.

"I wish the man who was the victim of this heinous attack a speedy recovery and unreservedly condemn this senseless act of violence.”

_________________
IDFIMH

interesting to note that the article focuses more on the reaction by politicians than on the drivers condition

I hope his injuries aren't severe and that he makes a full recovery.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Taxi driver shot in west Belfast 'lucky to be alive', a senior police officer has said

'Do not retaliate', police urge after shooting linked to feud

A taxi driver shot twice in west Belfast is lucky to be alive, a senior police officer has said. Two masked men fired shots through the window of the man’s taxi as it was parked in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry on Sunday morning.

The 49-year-old victim was able to make his way on foot into a local taxi depot. He remained in a stable condition in hospital on Monday.

Senior security sources are linking the shooting to a dissident republican feud. It is understood that the man who was shot had been threatened recently.

In an update on Monday, police said they would increase patrols in the area as they appealed for information. Detectives also confirmed that they are keeping all lines of inquiry open.

With reports of a feud between rival factions of dissident republicans, Detective Chief Inspector Gina Quinn said "violence was not the answer".

Ms Quinn said one of the two suspects was described as wearing dark clothing, while the other was described as wearing a yellow coat.

She called the shooting a “disturbing incident”. “The gunmen gave no thought whatsoever to the risk posed to the local people who live in that community when they carried out this attack,” she said.

“I know the local community are in shock, but I want to reassure the public that we are taking this extremely seriously and will maintain a visible policing presence in the area over the coming days. “There is no place in our society for this kind of shocking crime, and we are committed to finding those responsible.

“We will go to wherever the evidence takes us, and over the coming days, myself and my team will be working hard to piece together all of the available information. But we need help from the public to do this.”

The senior officer said the shooting was a serious attempted murder of a man who is “lucky to be alive”. She said those involved have no place in society. “I believe that society doesn’t want these people to live in its community, and the answers to what has happened lie in those communities,” she added.

“I urge people to have the courage to come forward and speak to us, either directly or indirectly.”

Asked whether police believe a dissident republican group was involved in the shooting, Ms Quinn said: “It’s a really early stage in the investigation, which I’m sure you’ll appreciate, and we’re keeping all lines of inquiry open. It really is too early at this stage to confirm a motive for the attack."

_________________
IDFIMH

Taxi driver shot in Belfast denied permission to travel for surgery on antiterrorism grounds, lawyer says

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20 ... wyer-says/

A man shot in west Belfast at the weekend has been denied permission on antiterrorism grounds to travel to Scotland for surgery, his solicitor has said.

Seán O’Reilly (49) was hit twice after two masked men fired shots through the window of his taxi as it was parked in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry at about 10.30am on Sunday.

His lawyer has said that urgent legal action will be launched against the decision to block his travel for surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, describing it as “absolutely disgraceful”.

Hardline republican political grouping the Republican Network for Unity has said Mr O’Reilly is one of its members.

His lawyer Peter Corrigan, of Phoenix Law, said Mr O’Reilly was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on Sunday with non-life threatening injuries.

He underwent surgery on Monday for a bullet which had lodged in his collarbone.

He said a subsequent scan showed he had also suffered a severed nerve in his left bicep and he was told he would have to travel to the Glasgow hospital to have the nerve damage repaired.

The lawyer said an air ambulance was on standby to take Mr O’Reilly to Glasgow on Wednesday evening ahead of surgery on Thursday.

“The surgeon has said that he has to be there before Saturday or the nerves will die,” Mr Corrigan said.

“The air ambulance was ready but then he was told that the authorities have refused to take them under antiterrorism legislation.

“We are going to challenge this decision. We think it’s unlawful, we think it’s absolutely disgraceful, where someone’s been the victim of an attack, a gun attack, that he’s going to be treated in this way.

“It’s a denial of our client’s basic rights to surgery.

“We’re shocked by the fact that the authorities would deny someone vital surgery in circumstances where they’ve been a victim of a gun attack.”

The home office and the Scottish government have been contacted for comment.

Amid concerns of a republican feud in west Belfast, Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Chief Inspector Gina Quinn earlier this week cautioned against retaliation for the shooting of Mr O’Reilly, insisting “more violence is not the answer”.

Asked if dissident republicans were involved in the attack, Ms Quinn told reporters that detectives were keeping all lines of inquiry open.

Ms Quinn said one of the two suspects was described as wearing dark clothing while the other was described as wearing a yellow coat.

She called the shooting a “disturbing incident”.

_________________
IDFIMH

Man arrested over attempted murder of taxi driver in west Belfast

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern ... OWEMHHUEA/

A man has been arrested over the attempted murder of a taxi driver in west Belfast earlier this year.

Sean O’Reilly (49) was shot twice while he sat inside his taxi in the west of the city on February 23.

On Thursday, police said they had arrested a 61-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder after a property in west Belfast was searched, and a vehicle was removed from the property for further examination.

Reward of up to £20,000 as new images of suspects in west Belfast attempted murder releasedOpens in new window
A PSNI spokesperson said: “He remains in custody at this time.

“Detectives are reiterating their appeal to anyone with information, or footage, to contact them on 101.”

_________________
IDFIMH