Man arrested over attack on Belfast student

Police in the North have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with a sectarian assault last weekend which left a student critically ill.

20-year-old Chris Whitson, from the Strathmore Park area of north Belfast, suffered serious head injuries when he was attacked in the car park of a nightclub in Portrush, Co Antrim.

Police said the attack resulted from an argument inside the club between the victim and his friends and a number of other men.

A spokesman said Mr Whitson and his friends were subjected to sectarian taunting because one of their group was a Catholic.

Yesterday, police said they were anxious to speak to a group of 16 men who arrived at the nightclub on a bus from the Broughshane area.

The man arrested today is believed to be from that area.