21/03/2008

Victim Critical After Co Down Assault

The picturesque garrison village of Ballykinler in Co Down has been shocked by a second serious assault inside a few month, which this time has left a man in his 60s in a critical condition in hospital.

The victim, who was left seriously injured after he was attacked a week ago, suffered a serious head injury in the assault at about 1am on Sunday 16 March at a house at Commons Road in Ballykinler.

Police were called to the scene after reports of a disturbance and two men were arrested but were since released on bail.

Police in Downpatrick are appealing to anyone who knows anything about the assault to come forward.

This is not the first time the army garrison village has been in the news, with a 21-year-old soldier who had just returned from Iraq being stabbed there last December.

That incident also happened on the Commons Road in Ballykinler, this time as the man was returning to his barracks shortly before 11pm.

It is understood he suffered one stab wound to the stomach, but recovered after being first listed as being in a serious but stable condition.

An Army spokesman said the attackers stole the soldier's mobile phone after stabbing him.

"He had driven out of the base to get a fast food order from a Chinese restaurant and was talking to his girlfriend on his mobile when some people came up and demanded he handed over the phone," the spokesman said.

The soldier had just served a tour of duty in Iraq with the Rifles Regiment.

See: Iraq Veteran Stabbed For Phone Outside Home Base

(BMcC)


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