Two arrested after Mullingar abduction

Two men in Derry have been arrested in connection with the abduction and assault of two people from Mullingar last night.

Gardaí have sealed off a house in the Newbrook Road in the Clonore area of Mullingar as part of the cross-Border investigation.

A man (42) was found shot and beaten in High Park in the Creggan area of the city at around 5am.

He had been shot in the lower part of each leg. A woman (38) who was discovered with him had also been assaulted.

The couple, who are both thought to be from Northern Ireland, are believed to have been abducted from their home in Mullingar town yesterday evening.

Both individuals are being treated in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry and their injuries are described as "extensive".

As a result of information from the PSNI, gardaí at Mullingar sealed off a house in the area for examination. The PSNI said this afternoon that two men from Derry had been arrested.

Sinn Féin MLA, Martina Anderson said she condemned the attacks "without reservation" and said local people in the Creggan area were "shocked" by their ferocity.

"While it is unclear what is behind the attack I would encourage anyone with information about these attacks to bring it forward to the PSNI," she said. "People have a right to safety within their own home".