Northern Ireland

Man 'viciously assaulted' in Belfast's Botanic Garden

Botanic Gardens in Belfast, pre-lockdown. Picture by Hugh Russell
Botanic Gardens in Belfast, pre-lockdown. Picture by Hugh Russell Botanic Gardens in Belfast, pre-lockdown. Picture by Hugh Russell

A man was viciously assaulted in Belfast's Botanic Park last night, police said.

Officers responded to reports that a large group of men were fighting in the south Belfast park.

They found a man aged in his twenties hurt and lying on the ground.

Paramedics took him to hospital for treatment to injuries to his leg, face and head. He remained in hospital this afternoon.

A 31-year-old man was subsequently arrested.

He was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. 

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

PSNI chief inspector Kelly Moore said: "We know there were large numbers of people in the area last night, around the time this vicious assault was reported to us, and I want to appeal to anyone who was there and who witnessed what occurred, or who may have footage of it, to get in touch with our detectives at Musgrave CID."