Man, 40, was injured in serious sectarian attack

The 40-year-old, who does not wish to be identified, was returning alone from a night out in the Waterside at 1am on Sunday morning. As he approached the end of Craigavon Bridge, to re-enter the Fountain via Wapping Lane, he was set upon by a gang of six men, whom the victim said, were in their early 20's.

"The attack happened in the middle of Abercorn Road and only for fellas coming out of the Fountain to help me I think I would have got a very bad beating.

"I am badly bruised, I have cuts and bruises to my head, they busted my nose and stamped on my head. My lungs are very sore and I'm finding it hard to breath, my ribs are badly bruised. I went to casualty on Sunday afternoon, but I have no broken bones," he said.

The victim said that the attack happened so quickly he doesn't know how long it lasted and said the attackers ran away when people from the estate came to his aid. He also said that the attackers are now gloating on a social networking site about the incident.

"I did fear for my life. I think their intention was to cause serious damage to me. But, I have been battered before. A friend asked me if I was traumatised over the incident. I told him I wasn't because I've gotten used to it. I have been beaten up and down the street before," he said.