Republicans blamed for shooting

The bus driver was shot in the legs by masked men

Republican paramilitaries were involved in the shooting of a bus driver at the wheel of his vehicle in Londonderry, the police have said.

Danny McBrearty, who was driving a coach with elderly women passengers on board, was assaulted and shot in the legs in the Creggan estate on Sunday night.

The police believe Mr McBrearty may have been trying to resist an attempted paramilitary hijacking.

A spokesperson for Sinn Fein in Derry said local sources indicated there was no IRA involvement in the attack.

The statement came after Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble challenged the IRA to state if it was involved.

The attack happened as the coach was returning from a day trip to Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

It had stopped at a house in Arranmore Avenue when two cars with masked men inside pulled up in front.

David Trimble: "It was a shameful and cowardly attack"

One of the gang jumped on the bus and hit the driver on the head with a hammer.

After a struggle, Mr McBrearty was shot in the legs by another masked man.

He is described as ill but stable in Altnagelvin Hospital.

David Trimble described the attack as "shameful and cowardly".

Residents

"He will almost certainly sustain lasting damage to his legs. Moreover, many of the senior citizens on the bus will have been seriously distressed," he said.

Bridie McCloskey, the mother of a Derry man who was allegedly ordered out of the city by republicans, welcomed Mr Trimble's comments.

She said her son, Joe, was a friend of the victim.

Police have not blamed any specific organisation at this stage.

"It is absolutely crazy when you think of a situation where you have a number of elderly people, there were actually six on board the bus at the time this happened," said police inspector Bob Torrens.

"A gunman comes on board, fires shots, any one of those shots could have ricocheted and could have hit any one of those elderly people."

No-one else was injured although many of the passengers were badly shaken.

They were taken in by local people and later brought home.

Residents in the street said they heard a number of bangs which they thought were fireworks.

Paramilitary activity

Meanwhile, the police in Derry have said they are investigating reports of paramilitary activity in the city on Sunday night.

It has been alleged that four houses were visited by people thought to be republicans.

However, the police said they could not confirm if the incidents are linked to the attack on the bus driver in Creggan.