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New surgery plan for feud shooting victim

Lyndsey Telford
BBC News NI
Pacemaker Press A police cordon with two officers in white forensic suits with blue gloves and face masks, thay are looking inside a white Skoda vehicle that has a yellow taxi sign above it. The word TAXI is in black.Pacemaker Press
Sean O'Reilly was shot twice in an attack in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry on Sunday

Alternative arrangements are being sought for an operation to be carried out on the victim of a suspected republican feud after he was prevented from travelling to Scotland for surgery, the BBC understands.

Sean O'Reilly, 49, was shot twice in an attack in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry on Sunday that police are treating as an attempted murder.

He underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his collarbone but required a further operation to save a nerve in one of his arms.

The specialist surgery, which is understood not to be available in Northern Ireland, had been scheduled to take place at a hospital in Glasgow.

But it is understood the hospital cancelled the operation after receiving information that it had been previously unaware of related to "terrorism".

BBC News NI understands the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust was seeking to make alternative arrangements to have the operation carried out.

Options being considered included the feasibility of having the Glasgow surgeon attend at Belfast and or the availability of other centres outside the jurisdiction.

Mr O'Reilly is said to be a member of Republican Network for Unity, a small political group with links to the dissident organisation Óglaigh na hÉireann.

He was believed to be under armed guard at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for his own safety.

After arrangements were made for Mr O'Reilly's surgery in Glasgow, the PSNI contacted Police Scotland so it could arrange to manage the risk to him while there.

The surgery was subsequently cancelled by the Glasgow hospital.

A solicitor for Mr O'Reilly told BBC News NI that Mr O'Reilly had been advised he would need to have the surgery carried out by the weekend - or risk the nerves in his arm dying.

However, it is understood the surgeon who was initially scheduled to perform the procedure has indicated the furthest date by which it could be performed was in the region of between 10 days and two weeks.

'Ruthless attack with one intent – to take a life'

PSNI A collage of three photos. Two of the photos show a heavy duty hi-vis jacket with a black lining and covered in stains. The third image is of a black baseball cap with a "RAB" logo on the front.PSNI
The PSNI have released images of a jacket and cap that may have been worn by one of the gunmen during the attack

Meanwhile, police investigating the shooting carried out searches on Thursday in west Belfast and seized firearms, along with a Hi-Vis yellow jacket and dark-coloured baseball cap.

These items are due to undergo forensic testing "to see if they can be linked to any individual".

Det Ch Insp Gina Quinn said one line of enquiry is that the jacket and cap were worn by one of the gunmen during the attack.

She said that Mr O'Reilly was shot by two masked gunmen who left the scene before officers arrived.

One man was described as being dressed in dark clothing and the second described as wearing a yellow coat.

The senior officer said that further searches will be carried out in west Belfast over the next few days as officers "work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice".

"This was a ruthless attack, in broad daylight, with one intent only – to take a life. Surely this has no place in our society," she added.

Det Ch Insp Quinn appealed for anyone with information on the attack to contact police.