Loyalist shot in east Belfast

A senior loyalist has been shot in the face in east Belfast.

Jim Gray, who is believed to be the Ulster Defence Association commander for the area, was hit last night outside the home of another loyalist paramilitary who was gunned down last Friday.

Mr Gray, who is in his 40’s, was getting into a car when he was approached by a lone gunman and shot in the face. He was rushed to the nearby Ulster Hospital, where his condition was described as stable.

Former Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers, who spoke to senior police officers at the scene at Glenlea Park in the Garnerville area, condemned the attack.

“Once again we have a mainstream loyalist paramilitary organisation taking the law into their own hands by acting as judge, jury and executioner.

“The victim is a well known loyalist who I know personally and the quicker the illegal weaponry is taken out of the country the better,” he added.

Fears of a fresh feud among loyalist paramilitaries were heightened on Friday when Stephen Warnock, 35, a member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force was murdered in Newtownards, Co Down.

He was shot dead as he sat in his BMW car on the Circular Road, while his three-year-old daughter sat in the back seat. She escaped injury as the car was riddled with up to 15 bullets.

His funeral is taking place tomorrow.

In last night's incident, the gunman gave chase firing several more shots but Mr Gray managed to reach the police training college at Garnerville where he was given first aid.