Informers will be shot graffiti at peace bridge

Paul Neilan

Gardaí are investigating a public threat to shoot ‘informers’ painted on the George Mitchell Peace Bridge, where a man was shot twice and dumped.

On Saturday (October 25), at the bridge at Aghalane, Belturbet, a motorist discovered a man with injuries to both legs left on the side of the road in a punishment-style shooting.
‘Informers will be shot’ read the painted threat at the scene where Noel Muldoon (41) Ballymote, Co Sligo, was discovered with knee-capping-style injuries at 7.15pm - 6.15pm before the clocks changed - by a passing motorist.
He was discovered next to his blood-spattered Northern-registered Citroen Berlingo van. Gardaí believe three or four vehicles, containing a gang, could be seen on the bridge at the time and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Mr Muldoon was convicted in Co Meath in 1999 of possession of stolen property - including two stolen tractors - and given a four-year suspended sentence.
In May of this year, he was convicted and given a five-year suspended sentence by a Roscommon court for possessing stolen farm machinery worth €70,000.
Gardaí took him from the scene to Cavan General Hospital for treatment to his injuries. He was later transferred to a Louth hospital from which he discharged himself.
Mr Muldoon is a married father with a young family and gardaí are trying to establish a motive for the attack.
Investigators believe a large volume of traffic would have passed the spot on Belturbet-Enniskillen Road over the October Bank Holiday weekend.
The chilling threat to ‘informers’ is thought to have been carried out between Friday, Hallowe’en night and Saturday (October 31-November 1), which would need the headlights of a parked car or torches if not done in broad daylight. The ease with which council workers removed the graffiti on Monday of this week suggests that it was raining at the time of painting.
Garda Superintendent James Coen is urging people to get in touch with gardaí.
“Gardaí in Ballyconnell and Cavan are investigating the full circumstances surrounding a serious incident that occurred at 7.15pm on Friday, October 25, at Aghalane, Belturbet, where a male sustained injuries as a result of being shot,” he told The Celt.
“Those injuries are not life-threatening and gardaí are investigating the full circumstances regarding this incident and of the daubing of graffiti at Aghalane at a subsequent date.
“An appeal is being made for witnesses to come forward in both incidents and to contact the station in Ballyconnell [049 9525580] or Cavan [049 4368800].”
No arrests have yet been made in relation to either incident.
The bridge, whose commemorative plaque was also painted over, was opened in 1999 by peace negotiator and US senator George Mitchell, Environment Minister Noel Dempsey and UK Labour peer Lord Dubs.