Man’s hands nailed to fence during ‘sinister attack’ in Co Antrim, say police

Loyalist paramilitaries are being linked to an attack in which a man had his hands nailed to a fence in a Co Antrim village.

Sources say the Ulster Defence Association had previously threatened the individual over alleged criminality.

The victim, who is in his 20s, was left with potentially life-changing injuries following the incident in Bushmills in the early hours of Sunday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) described it as a “sinister” attack.

Police received a report shortly after midnight that a man had been found with his hands nailed to a fence, with one nail through each hand. He also suffered injuries to his nose and was taken to hospital.

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Detectives who attended the scene said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire. One of the vehicles belonged to the man who had been assaulted. Firefighters attended to extinguish the fires and both vans sustained extensive damage.

Graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of a public toilets building is being linked to the assault and arson.

The incident comes 22 years after west Belfast man Harry McCartan (23) was nailed to a wooden fence and then assaulted in what was labelled a “crucifixion attack”.

Men using six-inch nails impaled the hands of Mr McCartan on the fence near Dunmurry on the outskirts of Belfast. He was so badly beaten about the head, arms, hands and legs that his father could only identify him by a tattoo.

Graffiti was also painted on walls, accusing him of criminality.

In a statement, the PSNI said of the weekend attack in Co Antrim: “Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

“We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

“This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers.”

North Antrim MLA Jim Allister also criticised those responsible for the “gruesome and cruel attack” and warned that “mob rule has no place in our society”.

“It is for the lawful authorities to deal with lawbreaking,” said the Traditional Unionist Voice leader.

Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland said it was an “especially appalling” incident and that her first thoughts were with the victim.

“It is not acceptable under any circumstances to brutally assault someone in this manner and I hope the man makes a full recovery. There is no place for this violence in Bushmills, North Antrim or anywhere else in Northern Ireland.”