A man who is wanted for the attempted murder of two of his neighbours could be hiding in Herts, police have suggested ahead of a Crimewatch appeal tonight.
Francis O’Donoghue is the subject of an Essex Police manhunt following a shooting on a travellers’ site off Goatswood Lane in Navestock at 3:30pm on Tuesday, August 27.
Two men in their 20s from the Brentwood area sustained gunshot wounds to the legs and chest and underwent surgery.
They are now recovering with relatives after being discharged from hospital and continue to receive police support.
Police have advised the public to avoid physical contact with O’Donoghue, as he may still have the gun he used to shoot his victims.
The shooting was the culmination of an ongoing neighbour feud that began outside a shop in Harold Wood earlier that day.
BBC Crimewatch will be featuring the shooting and displaying Francis O’Donoghue’s picture on their programme at 9pm tonight.
Essex Police’s Supt Trevor Roe said: “Tonight’s appeal on Crimewatch will highlight Francis O’Donoghue to the nation and reinforce to people why he is the force’s number one priority arrest.
“We are relying on people in Essex, London, Hertfordshire and, in fact, across the UK to help us find him and take him off the streets.
“The support we have so far received has been fantastic, but we do urge people to continue with the calls.”
Anyone who knows where O’Donoghue is should phone police on 999.
To report information about the shooting, phone detectives at Harlow’s Major Investigation Team on 01279 621802, email them on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
O’Donoghue is described as white, about 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build, with short-brown hair and protruding ears. He speaks with an Irish accent.