Stunned Sligo town prepares for funeral of local killed in daytime shooting

AN air of tension hung over Sligo town last night as preparations were made for the funeral this morning of murdered local man, Hughie McGinley.

Gardai kept a strong but discreet presence at the dead man’s removal last night and no incidents were reported, but the high security presence is being maintained throughout the town today.

Mr McGinley died in Sligo General Hospital on Thursday evening, a few hours after he was shot in the head as he sat in his van chatting to an acquaintance on the street in the town centre.

Mr McGinley, a 29-year-old father of one, had his young partner and their baby in the van with him when he was shot by a gunman who was the pillion passenger on a motorbike driven by another man.

He was believed to have been involved in a feud between two local families and had survived an attack on his life last year which left him with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

His younger brother, Teague McGinley, was critically injured in the same incident but also survived.

A number of shooting incidents in the locality since then have been attributed to the feud but gardaí have been frustrated in their investigations by the refusal of parties involved to make formal complaints.

The feud is believed to have been sparked by a falling out over a personal matter which flared up in 2002 and has led to series of violent incidents. Thursday’s attack caused particular shock, however, as it was carried out in broad daylight in the middle of the town’s busiest shopping street.