Vigilantes blamed for murder
A republican vigilante group was being blamed yesterday for the murder of a 24-year-old Londonderry man in the Inishowen area of Co Donegal on Thursday night.
Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) has been responsible for dozens of shootings targeting those allegedly involved in the drugs trade since their emergence in 2008 but, with the death of father-of-two Andrew Allen, it has claimed its first life.
Mr Allen, originally from the Gobnascale area in Londonderry’s Waterside, was among several men forced out of the city last year under threat of death.
The killing took place at Links View estate just outside the normally quiet seaside town of Buncrana just after 9.20pm on Thursday night. It is understood three men approached the house and fired a shot or shots through a window hitting Mr Allen. The victim died at the scene.
It has been confirmed that, after failing to gain access to the victim’s house, the attackers fired blind through a curtained window. It is not known if Mr Allen’s children were at home at the time.
Gardai were yesterday examining the scene of the killing and a second crime scene was established a short distance away at Fahan where a car believed to have been used by the gunmen was found burned out.
Widespread condemnation of the murder followed quickly.
Londonderry District Policing Partnership chairman Councillor Thomas Conway said: “Firstly, I would like to extend my sympathy to the young man’s immediate family and friends and I would remind those who carried out this murder that elected representatives north and south were all elected on a mandate of support for the PSNI and An Garda Siochána. The people who carried out this attack have no support in our communities and I would urge anyone with any information in relation to this crime to contact either the PSNI or An Garda Siochána immediately.”
Foyle MP Mark Durkan of the SDLP said: “I totally and absolutely condemn this brutal and cowardly murder which is a throwback to the very worst of our past.
“The people of Derry will be disgusted and appalled to learn of this attack. Those responsible are stuck in their old Provoist ways and there can be no justification or excuse for this callous crime. This murder is an affront to the local community who want violence such as this to stay in the past. The perpetrators have absolutely no mandate and no support.”
The area commander of the PSNI in Londonderry, Chief Inspector Garry Eaton, pledged complete co-operation with the Garda in an effort to hunt down Mr Allen’s killers.
Mr Eaton said: “It is an absolute tragedy for the family. Our thoughts must be with the family and friends of this young man at this very traumatic time for them. Clearly our colleagues in An Garda Siochana will be leading an inquiry. If it is at all possible for us to assist, then we will.”
Mr Allen’s parish priest Fr Michael Canny said people were horrified by the killing.
“Here we find people who are judge, jury and executioners. There’s no room for this in a civilised society,” he said.
At the time of going to press no organisation had claimed responsibility for the killing.
