Ballycastle Dad Fears Repeat Attack

A 17-year-old has been left in hospital with head injuries after an attack in Ballycastle, but the victim's dad fears the assault may not be the last.

Tighearnan McLaughlin was set upon by a gang after a night out in the Co Antrim town which saw the Cloughmills teenager suffering serious head injuries for which he has had to undergo surgery to have three metal plates inserted into his broken jaw.

He had been walking towards a mini-bus with a friend earlier this month which was to take them home from a nightclub. His father said the A-level student is lucky not to have suffered brain damage.

The boy's father now says he feared another young person would be targeted by the gang who he believes have been responsible for similar attacks.

"Some other poor unfortunate teenager could have the same thing happen to them.

"Someone could lose their life over this. They were starting to jump on his head and it would have led to serious consequences, brain damage or even death. I've been thinking about that ever since."

A friend of the injured teenager was also punched in the head by the attackers but was not badly injured.

A PSNI spokesman said police were aware that a young man had "suffered serious head injuries following an assault in the Castle Street/Clare Street area of Ballycastle".

"The incident is being actively investigated and police are following a definite line of inquiry and are continuing to examine all available evidence including CCTV footage.

"Witnesses are again urged to contact the police at Ballycastle," he said.

(BMcC/KMcA)