AN attack which left a man with serious injuries and was witnessed by his partner and two young children has been branded "horrendous".
The victim, who is understood to be in his mid-twenties, sustained several injuries including a suspected broken leg and fractured ribs during the incident at his home in Larne, Co Antrim.
A gang of around four masked men forced their way into the house in St John's Place in the early hours of Monday and attacked their man, who was in bed at the time, with bats and pick-axe handles.
Sinn Féin representative Oliver McMullan, a former MLA for East Antrim, claimed the UDA was behind the attack.
Last month loyalist paramilitaries - including the UDA - said the groups were turning their backs on criminality and would expel members who break the law.
"The UDA said they wanted to get away from criminality. Their leadership needs to stand up now and condemn this," Mr McMullan said.
A PSNI detective said the woman and children in the property had been left traumatised by the "ferocious and inhuman attack".
Detective Inspector Conor McStravick said: "We believe at this time that the men left the area in a vehicle following the attack.
"Our inquiries are at an early stage and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or any suspicious activity in the area, or who has any information which could assist us with our inquiries to contact detectives."
Detective Inspector Conor McStravick said: "We believe at this time that the men left the area in a vehicle following the attack.
The attack came after a man in his mid-twenties was beaten with nail-studded bats at his flat in Larne.
Four men assaulted the man, believed to be originally from eastern Europe, at his flat on Upper Waterloo Road in Larne earlier this month.
The man, who is thought to have previously lived in the Shankill area of west Belfast and Newtownabbey, was treated in hospital for a head injury and several puncture wounds.
At the time, Mr McMullan said the UVF were responsible for the assault.
