Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker has said his children witnessed the aftermath of a shooting in west Belfast on Sunday.
Sean O’Reilly was shot at 10:30am on Sunday morning.
He was sitting in his car outside the taxi firm where he works in the Bell Steel Manor area of Poleglass when police say he was approached by two masked men.
Five shots were fired at him, hitting him once in the shoulder.
The victim was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition.
Police remain at shooting scene in Poleglass area of west Belfast
Forensic detectives attended the scene alongside armed response teams.
The area remained cordoned off on Sunday evening and officers are expected to return to the scene today as PSNI enquiries continue.
Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, the west Belfast MLA, condemned the attack which he said took place near a football academy.
It was like, as my own children described it, something from a movie
He added that many children, including his children, had witnessed the aftermath of the attack as they travelled to football training.
The Sinn Fein MLA said: “They wouldn’t have been there at that exact time, but they would’ve been travelling to that vicinity so they would’ve seen the police cordons, even my own children attend this academy and witnessed the scenes and the aftermath.
“I’m sure a lot of parents had to explain to their children what was going on. It was like, as my own children described it, something from a movie.”
Baker said police cordons are still up in the area, exposing more children to the aftermath of the shooting.
“There’s children going to school today with this part of the road closed off and there will be parents having to have conversations trying to explain to their children what has happened,” he said.
Baker condemned the shooting adding: “No matter who was involved there is no place for guns on the streets and there is no role in society for criminal Paramilitary gangs our communities do not want this and they want them off our backs.”
On Sunday it was revealed that the victim had been threatened two weeks ago in a garage forecourt, with fears now growing of a violent retaliation amid an escalating feud between members of the dissident gang Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH).
Gun attack victim Sean O’Reilly (Photo Belfast Telegraph)
Baker encouraged anyone who had witnessed or had any information relating the shooting to contact the police.
“Anyone with any information should come forward to the PSNI and allow them to continue their investigation. As I said there is no there’s no place in our society for guns in our streets there’s no justification for their actions,” he said.
“They need to disband immediately, they have no support in our community.”
Eoin Tennyson, Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party, also condemned the attack on Good Morning Ulster.
“It’s an absolutely shocking and heinous incident that must be condemned by every single one of us in society.
“This kind of violence has absolutely no place on our streets.
“I would encourage anyone with any information whatsoever to take that to the PSNI without any delay.
“Criminal paramilitary gangs have absolutely no place in our community and it’s long past time that they left the stage.”