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Men released over editor attack | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Two men arrested over an attack on a newspaper editor at Belfast's Christmas Market have been released. | |
Jim McDowell, 60, northern editor of the Sunday World, suffered head injuries in the beating in November. | Jim McDowell, 60, northern editor of the Sunday World, suffered head injuries in the beating in November. |
Speaking afterwards, he said his attackers clearly wanted to do "severe damage" to his head. | Speaking afterwards, he said his attackers clearly wanted to do "severe damage" to his head. |
The men, one in his 40s and one in his 20s, were arrested on Monday. They have been released on bail, pending further inquiries by police. | |
Mr McDowell said at the time he had been hit and repeatedly kicked. | |
"I was dazed and then the blows came raining in, I went down and then the kicks came in, very, very hard and frequently, it was relentless," he said. | |
"There's a heel mark on the back of my head where they were actually stamping on my head as well and the boot coming in was absolutely relentless. | "There's a heel mark on the back of my head where they were actually stamping on my head as well and the boot coming in was absolutely relentless. |
"I tried to get up a couple of times - and I can look after myself - but it was impossible to do it. They wanted to do damage. They wanted to do severe damage to my head." | "I tried to get up a couple of times - and I can look after myself - but it was impossible to do it. They wanted to do damage. They wanted to do severe damage to my head." |
The attack happened at the Continental Market in Belfast city centre in the grounds of the City Hall on 25 November. | The attack happened at the Continental Market in Belfast city centre in the grounds of the City Hall on 25 November. |
Head injuries | Head injuries |
Mr McDowell was injured in the head, arms and legs, but did not need hospital treatment. | Mr McDowell was injured in the head, arms and legs, but did not need hospital treatment. |
He said when the assault ended, the attackers did not run from the crowded market, but instead "swaggered away". | He said when the assault ended, the attackers did not run from the crowded market, but instead "swaggered away". |
The attack happened less than two weeks after his car was vandalised outside Craigavon Courthouse. | The attack happened less than two weeks after his car was vandalised outside Craigavon Courthouse. |
At the time, he was at a hearing for a number of men charged in connection with the murder of one of his reporters, Martin O'Hagan | At the time, he was at a hearing for a number of men charged in connection with the murder of one of his reporters, Martin O'Hagan |
Mr O'Hagan was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in Lurgan, County Armagh, in September 2001. | Mr O'Hagan was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in Lurgan, County Armagh, in September 2001. |
Mr McDowell has been threatened several times in the past by loyalists and republicans. | Mr McDowell has been threatened several times in the past by loyalists and republicans. |
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