Detectives investigating a double shooting in west Belfast on Thursday night say there can be no room for people to take the law into thier own hands.

The man and woman were injured in a paramilitary-style shooting at around 6.15pm, and are being treated in hospital.

Both victims, who are aged in their 50s, were shot in the lower legs.

The incident happened in the Norglen Parade area yesterday evening.

Inspectors have refused to be drawn on the exact motive for the attack, but the PSNI are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

Chief Inspector Norman Haslett said several masked, armed men were involved:

"Thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening - but the ordeal and the trauma that the couple went through must have been quite horrific.

"This is a brutal, callous and horrific attack on a defenceless couple in their house and I would condemn it in the strongest possible terms," he added.

"The people who did this have no moral compass whatsoever. This type of behaviour in this day and age is totally and absolutely unacceptable for any society.

"The people of west Belfast and the people of this country want to move forward - and the criminals who did this, and criminals is what they are, they're just trying to drag is into the past where no one wants to go".