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Pub shooting was not another Brass Handles

27/ 3/2008

TERRIFIED drinkers dived for cover when two gunmen barged into a pub in Irlams o’th’ Height and opened fire over the Bank Holiday weekend.

One bullet hit a 26-year-old man in the thigh. Another hit a woman, 50, in the ankle.

Both were treated in hospital after the attack at the Dog and Partridge pub, on Bolton Road on Friday, March 21 just before 10pm. It is thought the shooting could have been a targeted attack in an attempt to elicit protection money.

Eyewitnesses said there were about 30 people there enjoying their Bank Holiday drinks when the attack happened. One witness, who did not want to be named, said: "I was with my wife just having a pint. There wasn’t any warning.

"We just dived for cover when they came rushing in. There was blood on the floor, but the guy who was shot didn’t seem too concerned. He kept on drinking until the paramedics arrived."

Landlord Mark King has been at the the Dog and Partridge for eight months and has vowed to carry on, employing door staff on weekend nights.

He said: "There have been a few problems but nothing remotely like this. We are voluntarily putting door staff on for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The police accept the shooting had nothing to do with the pub."

Local councillor Mary Ferrer, who was in the pub just minutes after the attack, has now called for its licence to be revoked.

She said: "I think the pub should be closed down. We need to send out the message that we have had enough with this sort of crowd. It’s an accident waiting to happen. I believe they are going to employ door staff now for a Friday and Saturday night and we can only hope this helps."

Police recovered two gun cartridges from the pub and have been reviewing CCTV footage.

Det Insp Rebekah Sutcliffe, of Salford CID, said: "This was a terrifying incident and it is fortunate people were not more seriously injured.

"Incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Salford and I’d like to reassure the community there is an increased police presence in the area in response to this."

There was also an incident on Sunday night at nearby pub The Pendlebury. Police had to be called to a fight with around 15 men. The shooting comes two years after a fatal incident at the Brass Handles pub in Pendleton.

Two men burst into the pub in Edgehill Close, Pendleton in March 2006 and opened fire towards their target, David Totton, who survived. However, the gunmen were then overpowered and themselves shot dead.

n Witnesses to the Dog and Partridge shooting should call police on: 0161 856 5351 or Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111.

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