Two men seriously injured in separate North attacks

Two men are in serious condition in hospital in the North following separate assaults in Belfast and Co Down yesterday.

A 23-year-old man is in a critical condition with head injuries after he was attacked early yesterday morning in the Dunbar Link/Gordon St area of Belfast city centre.

Three men are being questioned by police in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man is also in hospital after he was stabbed in Newtownards, Co Down, last night.

Two men have been arrested in connection with that attack, which happened at around 9.30pm.

The victim received stab wounds to his throat, hands and ear, but managed to get to a friend's house and raise the alarm.

Elsewhere, another man is recovering in hospital after he was beaten with baseball bats and sticks in a paramilitary-style punishment attack in Derry last night.

A 41-year-old man is also due in court later today charged with attempted murder in connection with another assault in Castlewellan, Co Down, on Saturday afternoon.

The victim is in a stable condition in hospital.

Three people were arrested in connection with the attack, but the other two have since been released without charged.