By Alan Healy
Police in Derry are investigating an arson attack on a car belonging to a man who was shot in both legs earlier this month.
Anthony Moran was shot twice in the attack which happened at a house in the Galliagh Park area of on Monday, July 3.
One of the bullets went through his left knee, while the other lodged in his right knee.
He told the Derry News after the attack that he was shot for ‘no reason’.
Mr Moran, who is 44-years-old and comes from the Carnhill area of Derry, remains in a wheelchair due to his injuries and is expected to do so for another four weeks.
Shortly before midnight on Thursday, his car was set alight close to his home.
The fire was extinguished by a crew from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).
However, the car, which Mr Moran uses in his job as a taxi driver, sustained extensive damage as a result of the blaze.
Speaking to the Derry News on Friday morning, Mr Moran said that while he does not know who was behind the attack, it may have been orchestrated by the people responsible for shooting him.
“I don’t know why this happened, but I think it’s too much of a coincidence for it not to connected to what happened to me a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
“No one has come forward to claim responsibility for what happened to me, or admit it, and I honestly don’t anyone to come out and say that now.”
Mr Moran agreed that he may have been targeted again for speaking out against those who carried out the gun attack.
“I haven’t been given any explanation, and I don’t expect them to apologise either, but it could be that this has happened because I spoke out about what happened to me,” he continued.
Mr Moran added that he would be speaking with a local mediation service based at the Rosemount Resource Centre (RRC) in an effort to find out why his car was set alight.
“It could well be that the attack on me was never sanctioned by any group, so I may never find out,” he continued.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed they are treating the incident as arson.
PSNI Sergeant Nick Rainey said: “We received a report at approximately 11.40pm that a vehicle was on fire and responded alongside NIFRS. Local residents, who came on the scene first, helped extinguish the fire. “Police are treating the incident as arson and are appealing for anyone with information that could assist our investigation to contact police at Strand Road by calling 101, quoting reference 1577 of 20/07/17. “Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Meanwhile, police have also appealed to people living the Galliagh area of the city who have CCTV cameras on their property to assist them in the investigation into the shooting on July 3.
In a leaflet issued to householders living in the area, police have asked people who have CCTV cameras if they captured footage of the offenders.
The leaflet also asks householders if they heard shots or anyone fleeing the area on the night the shooting occurred.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1496 of 03/07/2017.
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