A Newtownhamilton man says his son is afraid to walk about the town after being assaulted by a group of males on Sunday night.
Jamie Connolly was beaten by a gang of five males as he walked home along Armagh Street.
He sustained facial injuries in the attack and dad Stephen says the incident has left the 21-year-old shaken “big time”.
Speaking to Armagh I, Stephen explained: “It happened on Sunday night between half 11 and 12 o’clock. He was in Cullyhanna with his friends and he had a few drinks but nothing out of the ordinary.
“He got a lift back to Newtown; he was dropped off at the Mace shop at the top of the town and began walking.
“He got as far as the Chinese, or the flats before it, on Armagh Street. This man then came out and said to him ‘what are you doing?'”
Stephen says his son replied that he was going home, and the male then proceeded to slap the young man before several others came from the flats.
Despite telling the group that he “did not want any trouble” they proceeded to beat Jamie up, who was eventually able to run off.
Jamie was later able to identify the male who had initially struck him along with two others.
Stephen said: “He is six foot and well built but it has shaken him up big time. I was born and reared in Newtown, so was his mother, and so was he, but he is afraid to even go down the town now.”
Police are appealing for information following the report.
A PSNI spokesperson told Armagh I : “Shortly after 11.35pm, it was reported that a male in his 20s was assaulted by a group of men in the area.
“He received treatment for facial injuries following the incident.
“Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 2194 02/08/20.
“An online report can be made via the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ .
“Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ .”
