Playground shooting boy 'looking forward to TV'

A five-year-old boy shot in the head in a school playground is now singing and looking forward to watching television, it emerged today.

Doctors in Northern Ireland treating Darragh Somers have been astonished by his recovery.

He was critically ill on a life-support machine for days after being hit by a stray rifle bullet nearly a fortnight ago.

But the Co Fermanagh youngster has now been moved into an ordinary ward at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where his parents have kept a bedside vigil.

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Kyle, who is heading the investigation, said Darragh’s progress may help police identify the hunter believed to have fired the shot.

He said: “He’s made an amazing recovery. Doctors can’t believe the progress he has made in the last couple of days.

“Darragh is conscious, able to sip water, and is asking what is going on in his favourite TV programmes. He has even been able to sing a few songs.

“With this good news, we hope that the person who fired the shot will realise that the situation is not as bleak as once feared, and we hope that person will now come forward, either directly to police, or via a third party.”

Darragh was shot as he played at St Patrick’s Primary School, near Enniskillen, on April 22.

It is thought he was hit by a stray bullet from a .22 rifle fired by someone shooting vermin nearby.

Detectives have seized 51 rifles so far with more to be collected, Mr Kyle disclosed.

“Another part of our investigation involves inquiries with gun dealers, and we have widened that to include those over a larger area,” he said.

Police are also trying to locate the owners of two vehicles, a grey/green people carrier seen near Garvary Church in the area, and a blue or purple Toyota four-wheel-drive spotted at the school gates just before the shooting.

“Our inquiries are at an advanced stage, and a lot of that is due to the good co-operation we have had from local people,” said Mr Kyle.