PSNI close in on car theft gang

Thugs who threw a 16-month-old baby from a car and savagely beat his father when he tried to prevent them stealing a vehicle deserve to be locked up for a long time, police said today.

Chief Superintendent Ken Henning said officers were following a positive line of inquiry in the hunt for a gang who bit part of the victim’s ear off and beat him with wooden bats at a supermarket in Lisburn, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland.

The man was in his car when when he saw three youths attempting to steal a vehicle but was set

upon and viciously beaten when he tried to intervene at around 8am today.

The attackers drove off in the victim’s Ford Focus where his baby son was asleep and moments later the child was thrown from the car, although he was unhurt.

Mr Henning said it was very fortunate the young child had not been seriously hurt during the incident.

“We are very anxious to catch these men and put them behind bars where they belong for a quite substantial period of time,” he said.

“Fortunately we are following a positive line of inquiry but we still need the public’s support and public help to resolve this issue and catch these thugs because that’s really all they are.

“We’ve had a good response from the public so far this morning, we’re obviously appealing if anyone else has seen anything and hasn’t contacted us to please make contact with us,” he added.

The child was reunited with his mother after the incident, while his father was taken to hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

His car was found burnt out a short time later in Poleglass, west Belfast.

SDLP MLA Patricia Lewsley expressed shock and horror at the incident.

“This was a horrendous attack,” she said. “This man who bravely attempted to intervene in a robbery ended up being savagely beaten by the gang of youths.

“I am absolutely horrified to think anyone could set upon an innocent man like this, and could treat a little baby with such vengeance.

“This attack was extremely vicious and was an act of total disregard for human life.

“Those responsible, as young as they maybe, must not be allowed to get away with such violence.”