27/07/2012

NI Minister Fires Warning Shots

The health minister, Edwin Poots, fired gunshots last night to warn off intruders to his home.

Mr Poots shot from an upstairs window of his home near Lisburn, the DUP have confirmed.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened at Gardeners Road in the early hours of June 6.

The 47-year-old minister was at home with his wife and four children when two people were spotted close to the house.

They fled after he shouted a warning and fired into the air.

A DUP spokesman said: “"Unknown persons were observed on Mr Poots' property and only metres from the occupied house of a family member. Given the risk to Mr Poots and his family, a legally held shotgun was safely discharged into the air by Mr Poots from within his house to alert the intruders that their presence was known.

“The police were then called by the family and are investigating the matter.”

Legally-held guns are those for which a firearms certificate has been issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

(NE)

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