THERE were conflicting reports this week over who was behind last month's punishment shooting of Strabane man Paul Murray.
Mr Murray was shot several times in the legs and upper body after being taken from his Springhill home.
A short time after the attack, a group calling itself the RDA claimed they shot the 30-year-old and made unsubstantiated claims.
In an interview with the Strabane Chronicle last week, the injured party strenuously denied the allegations levelled at him by the group.
Meanwhile, a similar punishment-style attack on a 21-year-old man in Strabane last week was widely believed to be the work of the same paramilitary organisation.
However following contradictory statements released earlier this week in the name of the RDA, it is now unclear who was behind either attack.
In a statement issued to the Strabane Chronicle on Tuesday morning, a group, claiming to be the RDA, using a new codeword, reiterated its allegations against Mr Murray.
In response to an offer by Sinn Fein councillor Brian McMahon to meet with the group to discuss the recent shootings, the RDA said they would not be meeting with anyone.
In a further chilling threat, the group warned: "We would also take this opportunity to restate that we will take whatever action necessary against drug dealers, touts, paedophiles and anti-socials.
"We will also take action to protect both the membership of this organisation and its supporters.
"The actions of those who have been supplying information about the activities of the organisation to our so called RUC/PSNI have also been noted and action will be taken against these people in due course," they said.
The statement concluded with the message that no more statements about the RDA's activities would be forthcoming.
This message however appeared shortlived, as less than an hour later a second message was relayed by phone to the Strabane Chronicle, which admitted last week's shooting at St Colman's Drive, but denying the attack on Mr Murray.
A spokesperson said: "The Republican Defence Army claim responsibility for shooting a man in Strabane last Tuesday night. He was told to leave the country when he was released from Altnagelvin or he would be shot dead.
"Also, there was a story in the Strabane Chronicle the week before claiming that the RDA shot Paul Murray the previous week.
"The RDA did not shoot him. It was a criminal gang from Strabane operating under British agents.
"They need to stop using our name or we will deal with them," they said.
The group went on to claim they were behind the expulsion of a paedophile last year.
And with regards to the offer from councillor Brian McMahon to meet with the organisation, the RDA message was simple - "He should mind his own business," they said.
