FIVE Co Antrim men will be sentenced next week for attacking former UVF man Darren Moore.
Belfast Crown Court heard today that such was the ferocity of the attack, a baseball bat used to repeatedly bludgeon Moore as he lay on the ground was found broken in two.
Judge Desmond Marrinan remanded Aaron Norman Cahoon, David Rush, David John Gibson, Joshua Wylie and Robert Campbell into custody.
Cahoon (28), of Cherrymount in Newtownabbey and Gibson (45), of Milewater Drive, New Mossley, pleaded guilty to a single charge of aiding and abetting grievous bodily harm.
The court heard Cahoon pleaded to the charge because he had provided his Honda Civic car for the assault while Gibson held a door open in a pub while the attack took place.
Rush (36), of Ballyvessey Green, Newtownabbey, Wylie (20), of Galgorm Road, Ballymena, and Campbell (33) of Clareville Avenue, Ballyclare, all pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily on Moore at McConnell's bar in Doagh on March 15, 2017.
A group of ten people were captured on CCTV walking into the bar where Moore was drinking with two others.
A prosecutor said seven men "took an active part in the assault'' while three others stayed in the foyer.
Moore was taken to Antrim Area Hospital where he was treated for injuries including a fractured skull and ribs.
Judge Marrinan described the assault on Moore as "almighty beating".
Rush, Gibson and Wylie are already on prison remand.
Judge Marrinan revoked Cahoon and Campbell's bail, telling them he would sentence them on Monday.
