TWO community workers have been attacked in separate assaults in counties Antrim and Down.
Aaron McMahon, who sits on the board of the North Down Community Network, was attacked with a hammer by masked men on Wednesday.
He was treated in hospital for severe bruising but was later discharged.
Another community worker in Antrim town, Seamus Davis, suffered two broken ribs when a man on a scrambler bike drove at him in the Springfarm estate yesterday afternoon.
Mr Davis, who is 64, told The Irish News: "This guy had been driving about on the scrambler for a few weeks. I asked him to get off the footpath and he told me to f**k off. He then pushed me over and drove straight at me."
He added: "If I hadn't stood up to him about this one of the kids was going to get hurt. You can't let these people win."
Mr Davis, who has been the subject of death threats and has had his home and car attacked in the past, said he would not be deterred from his role in Springfarm, where he has worked for over two decades.
Mr McMahon, who is also committed to continuing as a community worker, said he believes he was targeted because he has headed a campaign against the UDA in the Clandeboye area of Bangor.
Last night a rally in support of Mr Mahon took place outside his family home, where the attack took place in front of his wife and children.
He told the BBC: "It probably only lasted a minute at most, but I could hear the kids screaming and (my wife) Michelle screaming. Then they left."
Mrs McMahon added: "They (the children) were screaming as well, so my main concern was to keep them away. I opened the front door and screamed for help out on the street."
A 32-year-old man arrested "on suspicion of aggravated burglary" was later released on police bail pending further inquiries.
