Children recovering after gun attack

A seven-year-old boy and his six-year-old sister were recovering today after being injured in a gun attack on two caravans.

A seven-year-old boy and his six-year-old sister were recovering tonight after being injured in a gun attack on two caravans.

The boy was hit by shotgun pellets in the face and was detained in hospital. His sister was released after treatment for similar injuries to her legs.

They were injured when a gunman fired several blasts from a shot gun at caravans belonging to Travellers which were parked in the Carnbane Industrial estate, in Newry, Co Down.

Soon after the attack the Travellers, who had recently set up camp on the site, moved on.

Rose McDonald, mother of the injured children, told how they had all been asleep in their caravan when they were woken by the sound of the shots.

Sobbing, she said her son screamed after being hit. ‘‘I jumped out of bed and went to him, I thought he was dead.’’

Local SDLP Councillor Pat McIlroy condemned the attack.

‘‘These young children could have been killed. Nothing can justify an attack such as this, nothing.’’