The sister of a disabled man who was assaulted in an unprovoked attack in Armagh said the incident has left her brother in fear of going out alone, yet she still has sympathy for his attacker.
Her brother – who lives with cerebral palsy and autism – had just left a coffee shop at around 10am on Monday (January 19) and was walking up Little Barrack Street in Armagh when a man he described as having “fairy, gingery hair” walked towards him and began shouting “incoherently”.
When he attempted to walk past the man he said, “Excuse me, I have to go”, and was then punched unprovoked “eight to ten times” in quick succession, “like a boxer would do” said his sister.
She claims he was then “headbutted”, which resulted in his glasses being broken.
His sister said the whole event was “complete sensory overload” and coupled with the stress of the situation and her brother’s poor eyesight he was unable to get a strong description of his attacker, save for his hair colour.
He called his sister who then found him, calmed him down and took him to Armagh police station where he made a formal statement.
Devastated by the situation, she said her brother continuously apologised to police despite the fact he was the victim of a crime.
Amazingly, after all he had endured, her brother even said of his attacker: “Awk, God love him too. He probably has problems and can’t get help.”
This is a sentiment she shares, adding: “I feel totally let down with the whole health system. Anyone even like that man with complex issues and going to ask for help and under the influence – they’re not going to get it.
“You have to be sober to even get into Bluestone and years ago it was deemed to be that if you were a danger to yourself or others you were sectioned.”
While they do have sympathy for the man, her brother continues to be fearful of going out alone in town since the attack.
In a similar incident on the same day, a man – aged 20 – was standing outside the B&M Bargains store on the Lonsdale Road on Monday (January 19) waiting for a driving lesson to commence when he was also randomly “attacked and punched in the face”.
The incident occurred at approximately 11am, after it is believed the attacker was removed from the store for “attempting to steal”.
The staff at the store were thanked by the young man’s mother following the attack for their kindness and for “cleaning him up.”
When contacted for information following the B&M Bargains incident, police confirmed they had received a report at approximately 10:15am on Monday, January 19, that a male was causing a disturbance in the Scotch Street area of Armagh – close to were the first incident occurred.
On arrival the male had left the area, however around 12 noon police received a further report that a male had assaulted staff and a member of the public at a commercial premises while trying to commit a theft.
The male was located a short distance away, carrying a number of stolen goods.
He was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft and assault on police.
He has since been released on bail pending further police enquiries.
