Girl Looks On As Man Beaten With Iron Bars

Details have emerged of how a man was beaten with metal bars by three masked men in a burglary in Co Londonderry.

The men got into a house at Farranseer Park, Coleraine, shortly before midnight on Wednesday and assaulted the man in an upstairs room, even though a woman and young girl were present in the room at the time of the brutal assault.

Detectives in Coleraine are now appealing for information after the aggravated burglary.

A PSNI statement said: "Shortly before midnight, it was reported that three unknown masked men entered a house in the area armed with metal bars.

"It is believed that a man was assaulted while in an upstairs bedroom during the incident.

"It was also reported that a female and young girl were also present in the room at the time of the assault," the statement said, adding that the man was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries to his face and hands that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The statement concluded: "Enquiries into this incident are ongoing.

"Anyone who has any information is asked to contact Coleraine CID on 0845 600 8000, or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Alliance Coleraine Councillor Yvonne Boyle has expressed her shock that the men beat the victim with baseball bats while the victim's partner and child were in the same room.

Cllr Yvonne Boyle said: "I am appalled and shocked at the brutality of this assault. I hope the victim will be able to make a full recovery from his injuries.

"This is a very disturbing crime carried out by those who have no regards for the well being of others," she said, yesterday.

"The police need to apprehend these individuals and so I would urge anybody with any information about this attack to contact the police."

(BMcC/KMcA)