Northern Ireland

Takeaway driver hurt by brick may spend Christmas in hospital

The scene at Albert Street in west Belfast where a driver crashed after a brick was thrown at his car. Picture by Mal McCann
The scene at Albert Street in west Belfast where a driver crashed after a brick was thrown at his car. Picture by Mal McCann The scene at Albert Street in west Belfast where a driver crashed after a brick was thrown at his car. Picture by Mal McCann

THE wife of a delivery driver knocked unconscious after being hit by a brick thrown at his car in west Belfast has said she fears he will remain in hospital over Christmas.

The Chinese couple, who do not wish to be named, had been looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas with their four month-old child, but the man is still being treated after undergoing surgery for his injuries.

The driver, who works for a Chinese takeaway in west Belfast, was attacked as he made a delivery to a house in Albert Street, in the lower Falls area, at around 9.50pm on Sunday.

Police said a brick was thrown through the driver-side window of the moving car, causing the man to lose control and crash into the fence of a home close to St Peter's Cathedral.

The Belfast health trust last night said his condition remained stable, but the man's wife said the extent of her husband's injuries remained unclear.

"He is talking now but can't remember a lot of things. He will stay in hospital for a few days at least, but we don't have results from the X-ray yet," she said.

"I appreciate people trying to help us. People have done a lot of things for us and I just hope he can come home for Christmas but we just don't know."

She added: "I want him to stay in the takeaway and work, I don't want him to drive any more. It is so dangerous and I am so scared."

The Irish News revealed on Thursday that the driver had also had "his pockets emptied" by a gang while lying unconscious at the wheel of his car.

Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann described the attack as "a disgrace" and said the man could have been killed.