Second man shot in the leg in Northern Ireland in 24 hours

Attack was labelled ‘very worrying’ by Sinn Féin councillor as victim recovers in hospital

Five police officers have been served with gross misconduct notices (Getty Images)

A man has been shot in the legs in Northern Ireland, in the second attack of its kind in 24 hours.

The unidentified man was shot in both legs in Liscloon Drive in the Shantallow area of Londonderry at 8.30pm yesterday.

He was taken to hospital although his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

It was the second such incidence of violence in the space of 24-hours after a 42-year-old man was attacked in a “paramilitary-style shooting” in the Ballymagroarty area of the city late on Saturday evening.

Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley said to the BBC he understood the attack was a “so-called punishment attack”, the violence made “by appointment”.

The councillor labelled the attack “very worrying”, noting it was the second shooting in the area in just over a month.

The latest attack brings the count up to three after another male was attacked in Lincoln Court, Londonderry, in July.

Willie Hay, DUP MLA for Foyle, said the man – who was from the local area – had been asked to go down to the local park before being shot in both legs.

"One had to condemn it and quite obviously, this was a well-planned shooting," Mr Hay said to UTV.

'Knee capping' was a form of punishment meted out by the paramilitaries during the Northern Ireland Troubles. It was used to punish petty criminals or those whose behaviour the paramilitaries believed unacceptable.

There were an estimated 2,500 victims over that period. The injuries carried a strong social stigma.