Northern Ireland

PSNI continue manhunt after double stabbing in Co Antrim

The PSNI is trying to locate Paul Hamilton
The PSNI is trying to locate Paul Hamilton The PSNI is trying to locate Paul Hamilton

Police are continuing a manhunt after a double knife attack in a loyalist village in Co Antrim last month.

Officers say Paul Hamilton may be able to assist in their investigation after two men were stabbed in the Carncullagh Road area of Dervock on Sunday, July 30.


The victims were treated in hospital while a suspect made off from the scene.

It is understood one of the injured men has been allowed to return home while the second remains in hospital.

A spokesman for the PSNI said: "Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 32-year-old Paul Hamilton.

"Detectives in Coleraine CID believe he may be able to assist them with their investigation into an incident during which two men were stabbed."

Police have also confirmed that windows in a house were broken in the village in recent days.

It was reported that the front living room windows of the house were smashed sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning in the Knock Road area.

Read More: Loyalist flute band banned from parading through Rasharkin

Hate crime investigation after loyalist flute band's bus torched

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a loyalist band pulled out of a fundraising parade in aid of Cancer Research in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, Dervock Young Defenders said "It is with the greatest disappointment that regretfully after discussions with the PSNI we have taken the decision to withdraw our attendance at tonight’s cancer research fundraising parade in Ballymoney due to security reasons.

"The decision was taken because the PSNI contacted the band citing community tensions, security risks and the possibility of public disorder caused by threats from a criminal gang in Ballymoney," the statement added.

The PSNI said: "Officers have been liaising with a number of individuals and groups in the area to address heightened community tensions following the incident and would appeal to anyone with influence in the local community to use that influence in order to maintain calm in the area."

Dervock Young Defenders also issued a statement a day after the double knife attack in the village last month.

"The committee members of Dervock Young Defenders are appalled with last night's attack in the village," it stated.

And it added: "We as a band do not condone knife crime and the idea of them being on the streets of our peaceful village."

The band also condemned those it claimed were "making false allegations in a bid to stir up fake propaganda and tensions against our band".

"We believe this attack is personal and down to a family feud that has been brewing for a number of years now," it said.

"We whole heartedly wish the two injured individuals a speedy recovery and we wish to point anyone with information to come forward to the police or crimestoppers."