Northern Ireland

Paramilitary link to Bushmills nail attack being investigated by police

The man was found nailed to a fence in the Dundarave Park area of the Co Antrim town

Scene at Bushmills in Co-Antrim where a man had his hands nailed to a fence and two vans were burnt out. Graffiti was also painted on a public toilet block in the popular tourist town close to the Giants Causeway. Picture Margaret Mclaughlin 5-5-2024
Scene at Bushmills in Co-Antrim where a man had his hands nailed to a fence and two vans were burnt out. Graffiti was also painted on a public toilet block in the popular tourist town close to the Giants Causeway. Picture Margaret Mclaughlin 5-5-2024 (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY )

Police investigating the nailing of a man to a fence in Co Antrim are investigating a paramilitary link to the attack.

The UDA are being blamed locally following the attack on the man in his 20s in Bushmills. He was found shortly after midnight on Sunday with a nail in each hand.

Scene at Bushmills in Co-Antrim where a man had his hands nailed to a fence and two vans were burnt out. Graffiti was also painted on a public toilet block in the popular tourist town close to the Giants Causeway. Picture Margaret Mclaughlin 5-5-2024
Scene at Bushmills in Co Antrim where a man had his hands nailed to a fence (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY )

Two vans, one belonging to the injured man, were found on fire in a car park near Dundarave Park. Graffiti believed to relate to a “final warning” to the victim was daubed on nearby public toilets.

The man was left with potentially life-changing but not life-threatening injuries, the PSNI said.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton told BBC NI it was a “really shocking incident with levels of, almost, ultra violence”.

Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton defended the police approach to the dissident parade .
Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton . (Liam McBurney/PA)

Speaking on Monday, Alliance MLA Sian Mullholland described the attack as “absolutely uncalled for and unjustifiable”.

She said that there was “no place for vigilantism”, adding this was “something that shouldn’t be happening in 2024 in our society”.

“If people do have concerns, the police and the justice system as the only route that we have to follow, otherwise we’re in the wild west,” Ms Mulholland said.

The fence against which a man was ‘ crucified’ in Bushmills, County Antrim overnight. The man was nailed to the fence and 100 yards away two vehicles were burnt following the savage overnight attack. One of the vans is believed to be connected to the victim who is currently in hospital. Police have issued the following statement in relation to the incident : “ Detectives are appealing for information following a report of a serious assault in Bushmills in the early hours of today, Sunday 5th May. Shortly after midnight, it was reported that a man had been discovered ‘nailed’ to a fence with a nail through each hand. The man, aged in his 20s, also had injuries to his nose and is being treated in hospital where his condition is described as not life-threatening. Also in the public car park near Dundarave Park, two vans including one belonging to the injured man were on fire. Crews from NI Fire and Rescue Service also attended, extensive damage was caused to both vehicles. Graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of public toilets is being linked to the assault and arson. Detective Inspector Lyttle said: “This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries. Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned. "We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence. “This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers. “Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam or other footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 13 of 5/5/24.”
Grafitti was daubed issuing a “final warning” threat to the victim in Bushmills, Co Antrim after the man was nailed to a fence (Alan Lewis - Photopress Belfast/Photopress Belfast)

She added the “ripple effects” of the “barbaric” attack will impact the community in Bushmills, the emergency services who responded to the incident and tourists who were close to the incident staying in campervans.