Shooting target was 'innocent victim'

A man shot during a bar brawl in west Belfast was an innocent passer-by hit by a bullet intended for someone else, police said today.

The vicim was wounded when the round was fired behind him during a row involving at least two gunmen reported to be members or former members of the Official IRA - the group from which the Provisionals emerged three decades ago.

He suffered a serious wound to his thigh and was today ‘‘comfortable’’ in Belfast City Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The shooting happened on Easter Monday at about 10.15pm when a large number of people were known to be in the bar on the Glen Road.

An RUC spokesman said: ‘‘At this stage police believe that a scuffle broke out on the premises involving a number of people, at least two of whom were armed: one with a sawn-off shotgun, the other with what was described as a large silver handgun.

‘‘It is thought the injured man was not involved in the scuffle, but was shot as he walked to the toilet area with his back to the gunman who may have been intending to shoot another individual.’’

The Workers’ Party, which was associated with the Officials in the past, said attempts to link the party with the shooting were ‘‘misinformed, malicious and inaccurate’’.

WP west Belfast spokesman John Lowry denounced those responsible for the ‘‘reckless’’ attack.

‘‘They have no political agenda and their only reason to exist is to continue their criminal racketeering from which they benefit financially,’’ he said.

‘‘No-one should be fooled by spurious attempts to legitimise their activities by the use of self-adopted titles such as Official IRA, ORM (Official Republican Movement) or any other self-adorned conundrum.

‘‘It is a sad fact that since the ceasefires and Good Friday Agreement, there has been a mushrooming of such small but troublesome dissident groups, the vast majority of whom have never, at any time, been engaged in or had any interest in political struggle and the creation of a new society.’’

Police at Grosvenor Road RUC station in west Belfast have appealed for witnesses to come forward.