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Updated 3.48 pm
A MAN WAS murdered in Co Antrim last night after he was dragged from a house by a masked gang and beaten before being shot.
The man, who is named as 42-year-old Brian McIlhagga, was visiting a female friend at her house at Riverview Park in the town of Ballymoney when the fatal attack took place.
The 32-year-old woman was at home with her four children when at least three armed and masked men burst into the house. The woman was assaulted in the kitchen and forced to lie on the floor.
The PSNI say McIlhagga was then dragged from the kitchen, down the hallway and out through the front door of the house.
“He was beaten and then shot once in the leg outside the house. Tragically, he died at the scene as a result of the injuries inflicted during the attack,” Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey said this afternoon.
Although McIlhagga has not been formally identified, police say that that the father of five was from Ballymena and worked as a plasterer. A post-mortem is due to take place later today.
Detective Harvey said that the attack is “unusual for a town like Ballymoney” adding that the community is shocked by what happened.
The alarm was raised last night when the woman rang 999 at about 10.30 pm.
Police are appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything in the Riverview Park area around this time to contact them on the non-emergency 101 number or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Additional reporting by Daragh Brophy
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If the sun is at your back please turn on your lights.
Lights should be on at all times. I’ve been using them for over 25 yrs. It’s only now people are beginning to see the importance of having them permanently on while driving.
One day during a conversation with my brother in law I said that we should be manufacturing cars that the lights would come on automatically when the engine was started. He looked at me like I was insane. I’m on the same page as you, lights should be on at all times. It’s amazing how much more visible they make you. Especially if you have a dark coloured car.
Volvo have always had DRL’s or ‘Daytime running lights’ … they come on when the engine’s started. I think similarly with Saab. Not great if your battery is nearly dead and you’re trying to bump start it though!
Number of years ago, i was in a motor factors replacing a headlight bulb. When asking about quality of different makes bulb and life span, he asked “was I woman using my headlights in the daytime?” what a bellend. Lights on, costs nothing.
Got out of my van yesterday in a petrol station and was asked “why I was wearing sunglasses, because it was so cold out”.
Classic.
So let me get this straight, wear sunglasses when the sun is shining??? Should I also close the sunroof when it starts raining?
Pull down the sun visors when the sun is out !! I’m so glad I read this article.
Sort of related to topic…just back in from walking himself (Dog)…the amount of people driving without lights on is criminal…visibility very poor in this area today yet out of a sample count I took, only 40 cars out of 60 had lights on…a third of motorists didn’t feel the need to light up… Unbelievable..
Always drive with the Sun at your back then when it gets dark drive home what tool from Mayo thought of that
It’s pointless telling people to turn on there lights..The other day a car came at me with no lights on and when I flashed lights at them they flashed back and continued. People are basically thick
The RSA should know that that yummy mummy driving her 8 litre Hummermobile is going to don the darkest shades you ever saw. That, coupled with heavily tinted windows, should ensure that plenty of them end up on my side of the road. The RSA should also know that traffic lights display in strange colours when someone’s wearing shades. It’s as useless as telling people to turn on their lights in the daytime. 1/ If you can’t see a 1.5 ton of metal that’s 6 foot wide you shouldn’t be on the road. 2/ This being Ireland, most people think “I’ll be doubly safe and turn on the high beams”. I can give better advice, be it sun or seeing other cars. Drive at a speed that reflects the conditions and your abilities.
And why do you think bikers always use their dipped lights?
Vital info for Jay walking pedestrians – you cant be seen on the median !!!
What are the best sunglasses for the glare?
Polaroid.
I’ve bought polarized sunglasses for last few years from Aldi…€4 and do the job…or go to opticians and pay €100+…
If you’re supposed to be wearing prescription glasses you shouldn’t be wearing non-prescription sunglasses.
People in this country wear sunglasses In the dark when it’s raining ….
County Mayo is only about 36 degrees south of the North Pole(depending on your exact location).
It is only about 13 degrees south of the Arctic Circle.
This means that the midday sun rises only about 12 or 13 degrees high above the southern horizon in mid-winter.
Even at “high-noon” it makes for uncomfortable driving if you are driving into it.
More northerly Scandinavian countries (where the sun barely peeks above the horizon, if at all,in winter ) made it compulsory to have your lights on at all times many years ago.
P.S.
Anglers wear polarized sunglasses for a very good reason.
Polarized sunglasses cut the glare from the surface of the river and you can see the fish underneath.
Drivers take note.
Have been waiting years for the RSA to mention the use of sunglasses. BTW these shades from Aldi are not polarised.
Hope the RSA now go on to mention the other factors affecting safety and not dwell solely on their mantra “speed”
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