He made the comments after masked and armed members of the INLA fired a volley of shots to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of INLA volunteer Neil McMonagle.

Six masked men carrying guns, including two assault rifles, staged a 'show of strength' in the area before three men fired up to six shots from three handguns at the republican socialist monument at Leafair Park.

Councillor Gallagher, who also chairs the local District Policing Partnership, urged those who carried out the shooting to get involved with mainstream politics.

"I can understand people commemorating the life of Neil McMonagle but I think there are better ways to go about it," he said. "These shows of strength are a thing of the past and I would appeal to the people involved in the organisation responsible to come on board with the political progress and leave this type of thing in the past where it belongs."