Masked gang attack woman

A WOMAN who was beaten with baseball bats in a brutal paramilitary attack was warned she had 24 hours to leave her home.

Detectives said three masked men forced their way into the house in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, and assaulted the 56-year-old in her bedroom.

The woman, who was alone, was battered around the body before the gang ransacked her house.

She was treated for severe bruising at Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, and released this morning.

Detective Inspector Nicholas McCaw said the woman heard bangs at her door around 11.30pm yesterday.

Mr McCaw said: “She got out of her bed and, before she managed to open the door, three men burst in wearing balaclavas, dark clothing and carrying baseball bats. They then proceeded to assault the lady, striking her down both sides of her body. The men ransacked the house, smashing furniture with the bats. Then they told her she had 24 hours to get out of the house.”

The gang left the scene in a white saloon vehicle but police do not know to which part of the city they fled.

The woman’s husband was not at home at the time of the attack. Nothing was stolen from the house.

On a motive, Mr McCaw said: “It has all the hallmarks of a paramilitary attack. We are following a line of inquiry connected to loyalist paramilitaries in the North Antrim area. This was an absolutely horrific attack and has to be condemned by all right thinking people.”

Sean Farren, SDLP Assembly member for North Antrim, said he was shocked by the violent assault which he described as “a brutal and horrifying attack”.