Alex Maskey: “this particular development is a little bit interesting but it’s certainly not one that I would support.”

The short BBC report on the police being attacked with fireworks in the Markets area of Belfast last night, as they investigated the shooting of a 20-year-old man in the legs, has few details to go on. 

UTV, on the other hand, have a straight-foward statement, condemning both incidents, from local Alliance Councillor Catherine Curran, and something odd from Sinn Féin MLA, Alex Maskey.

Mr Maskey explained the initial incident.

“Two people went to a house and asked for an individual by Christian name and then began to shoot another different-named person in the ankles or lower legs,” he said. 

“It would look like a paramilitary-style shooting, but there’s no organisation in that area.

“Whether it’s some individual taking it upon themselves or an organisation trying to impose themselves or create something for themselves, I don’t know.

“Therefore this particular development is a little bit interesting but it’s certainly not one that I would support.”

“It’s not entirely a surprise, but it’s not a welcome development,” said Mr Maskey.

And on the subsequent attack on the police

Mr Maskey said the incident should not be taken “out of proportion”.

“I don’t want to see any attack on anybody and I think even the police are saying this was [not?] a serious incident so I don’t think too much attention should be paid to that,” the local MLA said.

“That’s not to minimise any attack on anybody but I don’t think it should be taken out of proportion.

“I don’t want to see anyone attacked, I want to see people working together,” he said.

Hmmm…


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