This is Essex --THE mother of two men shot at a travellers' site in Navestock last week has told how her families' lives have been "turned upside down" by the actions of a "mad man".
Isobel Ward has called for calm as tensions in the village remain heightened, following the incident in Goatswood Lane last Tuesday, which left professional boxer Martin Ward, 22, and his brother John with injuries to the chest and leg.
Tensions have been high in the community since news of the attack broke on Wednesday, with residents of the village holding an emergency meeting on Thursday evening.
Now Mrs Ward has urged the inhabitants of the village, which is thought to contain about as many travellers as settled residents, to remember the two young victims of the attack.
Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, the mother of five said: "This isn't a council matter, it's to do with a family.
"Our lives have been turned upside down and the last thing we need to hear is people all around us are having meetings and things like that.
"If the settled community fear there's going to be any retaliation I want to make clear there's going to be none from the Ward family, because we'll be leaving it in the hands of the police – as it should be."
One of her sons, lightweight boxer Martin, had earned numerous plaudits since he decided to go professional last summer, after narrowly missing out on representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.
Almost exactly one year to the day before the attack, the proud traveller told this newspaper of his dream to become world champion and spoke about his heritage.
"Yes, there are some bad travellers, a lot of them are disrespectful and that," he said at the time.
"They'll move on to a field and just tip rubbish there and then they'll move on. But it's just the way some of them have been brought up.
"There are good ones too though."
In the week that Martin tweeted to the world that he and John were recovering, his mother thanked neighbours and well-wishers from around the world for their messages of support.
Mrs Ward added: "My children have represented their country all over the world, and if you check Twitter and Facebook you'll see all members of different societies are hoping they get better.
"They've got a lot of healing to do but they are on the way to recovery.
"But mentally it's something you don't forget about straight away.
"Obviously it's been a big thing to deal with, the injuries may heal but the mental part of it mightn't go as easy."
Police are continuing the hunt for Francis O'Donoghue, who they would like to speak to about the incident.
Anyone with any information should contact Essex Police on 101 or 999. Reported by This is 20 hours ago.