Police hold two after Catholic teen's beating

Two men are being questioned by police today in relation to the vicious beating of a 15-year-old boy in the North which left him fighting for his life.

The boy was walking home when he was attacked in the car park of a store in Garfield Street, Ballymena, Co Antrim, between midnight and 1am yesterday, apparently with baseball bats.

He remains in a critical condition in hospital.

A Police Service spokeswoman said: “We arrested two men last night who are assisting us with our inquiries.”

Police described the assault on the teenager as particularly vicious. The spokeswoman said the motive for the attack was being investigated.

The teenager is believed to have been on his way home with a group of friends between midnight and 1am when they were targeted.

The group scattered and while the friends escaped he was cornered. It was believed he was beaten with baseball bats and left lying critically injured.

He is being treated in the Antrim Area Hospital after suffering what is thought to have been an extensive beating.

The car park was sealed off while forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of the area.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man will appear in court in Londonderry today charged with attempted murder.

A 25-year-old man was jumped from behind and stabbed three times while walking through the Pennethorn Court area of the city’s Waterside in the early hours of yesterday.

He was taken to the Altnagelvin Hospital for treatment. Police said the injuries were not life threatening.

The 24-year-old man will appear at Derry Magistrates Court.