Shooting victim was target of Donegal bomb attack

A man shot in the neck last month at his home on the Border has escaped a firebomb attack on his home, gardaí said today.

The 26-year-old Derry man fled unhurt from the latest attack just weeks after a gang gunned him down, abducted his girlfriend and shot dead her dog.

A bomb disposal team dismantled the incendiary device, which partially exploded at the house in the townland of Transallagh, near St Johnston, Co Donegal.

Gardaí said 11 properties evacuated shortly before 10pm last night remain cordoned off as officers carry out secondary searches of the vicinity.

Just over four weeks ago the same man underwent emergency surgery after he was blasted in the neck by masked gunmen at his home close to the Border.

His girlfriend was bundled into a van before being dumped unharmed nearby while her three-month-old St Bernard pup was also caught in the hail of bullets.

The young dog later died from his injuries.

A full security alert was sparked late last night when a telephone warning was made to a priest in Derry.

A garda spokesman said local residents are not expected to be allowed back into their homes until later today.

The Defence Forces said an army bomb disposal team arrived to examine the viable improvised incendiary device at the property at 8.15am this morning.

“The device had functioned prior to its discovery by gardaí, but little damage had been done,” said a spokesman.

“No controlled explosion was carried out. The device was dismantled and the remains were handed over to gardai on scene for investigation into the incident.

“The bomb disposal officer gave the all clear at 9.55am.”