Chip van owner beaten 'by IRA mob'

A young man was left with two broken arms and a broken leg because he refused to pay protection money to the IRA, it was claimed today.

Kieran Toner, 22 was seriously ill in hospital after being viciously attacked by a mob as he set up his chip van in Camlough, south Armagh.

His brother Stephen claimed the IRA had carried out the attack on Tuesday.

“The past while, people came up to him and said they were from the IRA and they were looking money off him for being there.

“He wouldn’t give them anything and they said ’we’ve been asking you long enough’ and then they gave him the beating,” he said.

Earlier today, the MP for the area Seamus Mallon, of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party pointed the finger at the IRA.

“I have no doubt what happened yesterday was either carried out by those who were sanctioned by the IRA or by the IRA themselves,” he said.

Sinn Fein Assembly member for the area Conor Murphy strenuously denied republicans had tried to extract protection money from Mr Rogan.

But he was unable to confirm that the IRA did not carry out the attack.

Mr Murphy said he believed the brutal assault was the consequence of ongoing anti-social behaviour in the village.

“I can’t state anything categorically because I don’t know. I do know that there are so many people angry at what has been happening in this area that it could virtually be anyone.

“What I do know is that what happened last night doesn’t resolve any of that and what we have to do is try to continue what we are doing and trying to provide the community with alternatives to anti-social behaviour and violent responses to anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Rogan’s ordeal began as he set up his mobile chip van outside a pub in the village last night.

It was rammed by another vehicle and he was then dragged around the side of the pub and beaten.

He suffered broken arms, a broken leg, broken ribs and puncture wounds. His van was then driven to his house and set on fire by his attackers.

Mr Mallon said it was the second such attack in south Armagh recently.

“Both have been recognisable by the degree of brutality that was used,” he said.

“The damage that has been done to the victims has been quite serious indeed.

“I have no doubt that whoever carried out both of these have the intent to ensure that it is they who enforce law in the area they are operating and that is at the heart of both of these attacks,” he added.