NEWS: Blood Fued

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
29 May 2010

A DRIVE-BY shooting on a Lothian home is being linked to a long-running feud which has already seen firebombings, vandalism and violent attacks.

Police are investigating after a shot was fired at the house in Dalkeith's Woodburn Avenue before the attacker sped off. The terrified family were at home at the time and called 999.

It is the home of the parents of George Rae, 39, who has been targeted several times over the past ten years.

Earlier this month, armed police swooped on a nearby house as part of an investigation into alleged threats made against him. No-one was injured in the latest attack at around 11:25pm on Wednesday, after the bullet missed a window and lodged in the gutter.

But neighbours said Mr Rae was now receiving round the clock police protection. A police van was parked outside his parents' home yesterday.

A police spokesman said they would not discuss the security arrangements of individuals, but appealed for witnesses to the shooting. He said: "Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of the reckless discharge of this firearm.

"Nevertheless, this is an incident we are treating extremely seriously, and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who noticed a dark-coloured car being driven at speed in the area after the shot was fired."

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang at the time of the incident and a car being driven away at speed immediately after.

One neighbour said: "It's getting too scary to feel it was just a fluke shot.

"The police have been in the area on and off for a while and they knew something was coming.

"I can see why you would think it looks like a normal family street.

"But we have to try and get on with our lives while the police are here and there's people shooting guns.

"I've got kids and they are curious about it and I don't know what to tell them."

Another neighbour told the Evening News how she is moving out of the street for good following the incident.

May Thompson, 48, said she watched armed police storm through her street looking for firearms, and then had her nerves shattered by the sound of a gunshot and screeching tyres outside her house. She said: "I just can't take it. I'm terrified of guns. I need to get out. I can't stay here any more."

Mr Rae previously told the Evening News how a campaign of hatred against him started after a "disturbance" at Dalkeith Miners Club ten years ago.

He was plagued with threatening phone calls, had cars repeatedly vandalised and was later ambushed and beaten up by six thugs with scaffolding poles.

On Boxing Day nine years ago, someone threw a petrol bomb at the window of the bedroom where he was sleeping with his pregnant partner and baby son.

The family were only saved when the Molotov cocktail bounced off the room's double glazing and exploded 20ft below.

The following year Mr Rae testified against killer Owen Anderson, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of father-of-three Gary Linn on 31 August 2001.

During the trial Mr Rae told prosecutors that he received a telephone call from prison in which Anderson warned him against testifying.