'Double Insult' For Attacked Fleming

Police have said they are treating a second attack on Coleraine man Damien Fleming as sectarian.

He is said to have been left 'shaken' in the wake of the latest beating.

The victim was critically injured in May when a loyalist mob descended on the predominantly nationalist Heights area of the town.

Father-of-four Kevin McDaid was killed in the clashes, which are believed to have erupted following a contentious Rangers versus Celtic football match.

At the time Mr Fleming's son said his father had only a '50/50' chance of survival.

Now, just weeks after been released from hospital, the man was set upon again in the same area.

It is believed two men got out of a car on Pates Lane at around 11.30pm last night and punch and kicked Mr Fleming.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the victim, but local Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard said it was him.

Councillor Leonard has spoken with the Fleming family, who are said to be distraught.

"His family said he had a black eye and was badly shaken, and they were obviously pretty distraught it would happen again to him," the Sinn Féin man told BBC News.

"This is the double insult, a double injury.

"Nobody should be attacked in this way, particularly when it comes to Damien who has been through so much in recent months."

Mr Leonard said the latest attack proved tensions were still simmering in the area.

See: Man Remanded Over Coleraine Killing

(PR/BMcC)