Man has part of his face bitten off in attack at party

A man had part of his face bitten off after an unprovoked attack at a house party in Co Donegal.

Kelvin McLaughlin, 22, underwent extensive plastic surgery at St James’s Hospital in Dublin yesterday following the attack, which doctors fear will leave him scarred for life.

Mr McLaughlin’s relatives said they were horrified and outraged by the attack.

The toystore worker from Letterkenny had his nose broken in the attack as well as having some of his lip and check torn off.

The young victim’s aunt, Karen Kirwan, said the entire family was outraged by the attack.

“We just can’t understand why someone would do this to another human being. We are all just in shock.

“Kelvin is a good young fella and now all he is worried about is how he will look for the rest of his life.

“He didn’t ask for this and anybody who knows Kelvin knows he’s not the kind of young fella who goes out looking for trouble.”

She added that as well as the physical pain, Mr McLaughlin was also going through a lot of mental pain because of the attack and the damage caused to his face.

The incident happened on Friday night last at a private house at Oaklands Park, Letterkenny.

His family said they do not know why he was singled out and said there was no argument before Mr McLaughlin was viciously set upon by one man.

Mr McLaughlin was treated at Letterkenny General Hospital but he suffered an infection in his face.

He then had to endure two days of waiting for treatment because there was no bed available for him at St James’s Hospital where he had to undergo specialist treatment.

Mr McLaughlin was last night recovering in hospital after undergoing treatment at St James’s where he is accompanied by his mother Ronda and grandmother Celine.

Gardaí have confirmed that a man in his 20s was arrested in relation to the attack on Mr McLaughlin.

He was later released without charge but a file on the matter is being prepared for the DPP.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing.