BY ROSETTA DONNELLY

A-NINE-YEAR-OLD Omagh boy who was shot in the head with a pellet from an air rifle was discharged from hospital on Tuesday.

The schoolboy, from the Hospital Road area of the town, was injured after the air rifle was fired by another nine-year-old boy.

Local police received a call on Sunday at lunchtime informing them of an incident in the Hospital Road area in which a child was hit in the head by a pellet discharged from an air rifle.

The boy was taken to nearby Tyrone County Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

ENQUIRIES

Police enquiries are ongoing but at this stage it is not being treated as anything other than an "accidental discharge of a weapon".

A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria Hospital said the young boy had been treated for his injuries but was well enough to be discharged on Tuesday.

Local UUP Cllr Ross Hussey said the incident starkly highlights the dangers of guns and how children will play with them no matter how young they are.

"My thoughts go out to the families involved and for the trauma they are going through and I hope the injured boy recovers from his injuries. I also hope the other boy suffers no long-term emotional effects from the unfortunate accident."

CRUCIAL

Cllr Hussey went on to say that the proximity of the Tyrone County Hospital was a godsend.

"This shows just how vital the 'County' is. In any society, a hospital is crucial for the well- being of the people.

"In the early stages of an incident such as this, shock is a major factor for both the injured party and the other parents. The 'County' would have been able to stabilise the injured lad before sending him to the Royal."

Cllr Hussey concluded by urging people who own weapons, including pellet guns, to be extremely careful when storing them.