Relief for victim of Ballyclare attack as council vows to fence off property

On May 4, 67-year-old Roy Forsythe was assaulted by a stranger wandered into his garden at Avondale Drive beside Sixmilewater River Park and threatened his 12-year-old grandson Justin.

The Forsythe family have at the site for over three decades, but have faced problems including trespassing and stray dogs since an access point to the park was built at the end of their garden with no visible boundary.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has now voted to instal a £3,500 fence around Mr Forsythe’s property due to the “exceptional circumstances” resulting from the access point changes made by council. The proposal, recommended by Councillor David Arthurs, was seconded by Alderman Mandy Girvan.

Mr Forsythe commented: “It’s a relief and I will feel a lot safer knowing the fence will be built. My wife and I have been having trouble sleeping since the attack, it shook me up and I felt my home had been invaded. If council hadn’t agreed to built the fence we would have thought of moving so this is a weight off our minds.”