THE family of a Derry man critically injured in a city centre assault believe he was attacked after intervening in a fight.
Father-of-three Danny Payne, who is in his late 30s, is in a critical condition in Belfast’s Royal Victoria hospital after undergoing emergency surgery.
An 18 year-old woman and a 19 year-old man were arrested last night and are helping police with their enquiries.
The attack in early on Sunday morning comes just weeks after teenager, Jordan McConomy (19) was killed in an altercation at William Street also in Derry city centre.
From Clooney in the Waterside, Mr Payne had just left a city centre bar with his wife, Sarah when he witnessed a row, according to his brother-in-law, Christopher McElwee.
Mr McElwee told The Irish News: “Anybody who knows Danny knows that he just wants to help people and he intervened.”
In the resulting altercation, Mrs Payne was struck by a man and suffered a serious eye injury while her husband was also seriously injured.
“Danny is just a gentleman. He used to be a volunteer with Foyle Search and Rescue and would do anything for anyone. He just wants to get on with people,” Mr McElwee said.
Mr McElwee said the family had experienced a “rollercoaster of emotions” since Sunday morning and relatives were keeping a vigil at Mr Payne's bedside last night where he had been placed in an induced coma.
Derry councillor, David Ramsay was part of a DUP delegation which met police to discuss the situation yesterday. Mr Ramsay said he hoped a delegation from Derry City and Strabane District Council could meet police to look at ways of ensuring city centre safety.
“The whole city is just disgusted with what happened and he is in everyone’s prayers,” Mr Ramsay said.
Derry SDLP deputy mayor, John Boyle said his party intended meeting police in the wake of recent incidents.
He said he believed licensing issues could be reviewed to ensure people on a night out were able to leave the city centre quicker.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help Mr Payne’s family with expenses arising from his hospital treatment in Belfast.
