A TAXI driver escaped uninjured after a gunman's weapon jammed during an attack in Milford village, near Armagh city, yesterday.
The man, married and in his mid 30s, worked for a city taxi firm which regularly delivered food in the area.
It emerged last night that the Armagh taxi firm where loyalists murdered two 17 year old boys in 1994 was first asked to make that delivery but refused.
Mr Gavin McShane and Mr Shane McArdle from south Armagh were murdered as they played a video machine at a taxi depot on May 18th, 1994.
An RUC spokeswoman said the man received an order and arrived around 1.15 a.m. yesterday at an address in Monaghan Street, Milford.
When he got no response, he returned to his car. A masked man appeared and pointed a gun at him.
According to an RUC spokeswoman, the assailant apparently attempted to fire the gun but no rounds were discharged.
The police have confirmed that the telephoned order for food was not made by anyone at the address.
Pastor James Armstrong, who lives nearby, said the incident had "stunned the community" which traditionally lives in peace. "We would resent anything like that happening in Milford," he added.