A man shot in a drive-by gun attack may have been targeted because of a pub row with a prominent loyalist, it was claimed tonight.
The victim was getting out of his car outside an engineering works near Ballynahinch, Co Down, when a single blast from a shotgun was fired at him from a passing car. He was taken to hospital with pellet wounds to both legs.
Police said the attack, at Ballymaglaue North, was carried out from a range of 20 yards and the victim did not suffer serious injuries.
The area was sealed off for forensic examination and a number of items taken away.
The injured man had no connection with the security forces and the shooting was not thought to be sectarian.
Local people said the injured man had an altercation with a prominent local loyalist in a town pub on Saturday night and the shooting appeared to be revenge.
The Democratic Unionist Assembly member for the area, Mr Jim Wells, condemned the shooting: "This is an extremely worrying development and the first time that such an incident has happened in Ballynahinch for many years."
PA