Family of four escape Portrush gun attack

A family was forced to leave its home in Northern Ireland today following a gun attack.

A family was forced to leave its home in Northern Ireland today following a gun attack.

Shots were fired into the house in Portrush, Co Antrim, as the couple and their two sons, aged nine and 11, slept.

No one was hurt, but police said the bullets narrowly missed the children's bedrooms.

Their mother (38) and her partner (45) were also upstairs in the Ballymacrea Road property when the gunmen struck just after 12.30 a.m.

READ MORE

Loud bangs against the front door were heard followed by two shots, before a car pulled away.  A baton may have been used to smash glass panels before shots were fired through, police believe.

The SDLP's East Derry MLA, Mr John Dallat, said the people behind the attck could not be considered an "average criminal gang but a bunch of highly dangerous people.

"The police tell me they have no idea why this attack should have happened and I agree with them. This family is involved in nothing that should attract the attention of anyone and their human rights have been seriously violated," he said.