Bomber Beaten

A convicted IRA bomber is today fighting for his life having been the victim of as sustained, brutal attack that has left him critically injured and on a life support machine.

Frank McGreevy, 51, was discovered by his 15-year-old son in the living room of his ground floor flat at Ross Street in Belfast on Saturday evening.

In 1976, McGreevy was sentenced to 20 years for his part in the Klondyke bar bomb on Belfast's Sandy Row, which left one victim dead.

Now, Mr McGreevy's family is keeping a vigil at his bedside in the Royal Victoria Hospital and one family member said they were all "deeply shocked and distressed".

A man remains in custody about the attack, having handed himself in to police at the Grosvenor Road police station in Belfast yesterday,

Describing the attack as "vicious" and "prolonged", Acting Detective Superintendent Jeff Smyth said there's a definite line of inquiry and appealed to all those responsible to hand themselves in.

Police found a pick-axe handle at the scene at Ross Street, but believe this may not have been the only weapon used to Bludgeon Mr McGreevy.

Mr Smyth said he remained "open minded" on a possible motive for the attack and that his officers are looking into a number of other incidents, involving violence, that night.

Police have also said there were signs that Mr McGreevy's house had been ransacked, but there was no indication as to whether anything had been stolen.

The police believe a silver Volkswagen Golf, AEZ 3796, stolen from Dunville Street, may be connected.