Alliance Councillor on Mid and East Antrim Council, Patricia O’Lynn, has condemned those behind an attack on a man in Ballymena.

Councillor O’Lynn said: “There can be no excuse or justification whatsoever for attacks of this type. The police are treating this as a sectarian hate crime, and it is important that it is condemned in the strongest possible terms. In addition to the physical assault, the attackers subjected the man to verbal sectarian abuse, which has obviously caused him great distress. I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

“I would urge anyone with information about this incident to pass it to the police on the 101 number, or anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on their freephone number 0800 555 111.”