Five sentenced over paramilitary-style attack

Hammers, baseball bats and metal bars were used in the assault. Credit: PSNI

Five Co Antrim men have been handed prison sentences totaling more than 27 years for their involvement in the beating of a man in Doagh last year.

The incident happened just after 6pm in a busy local bar in the Co Antrim village during March.

Ten men were involved in what police call "a brutal attack" on 49-year-old Darren Moore.

Hammers, baseball bats and metal bars were used in the assault, which was carried out in front of staff and customers.

Guilty pleas

David Rush, 35, Joshua Wylie, 20, and Robert Harry Campbell, 33, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent at Laganside Crown Court.

Rush was sentenced to six years, three years to be served in prison and three years on licence.

Wylie was sentenced to seven years, half of which to be served in a Young Offenders’ Centre and half on licence.

Campbell was sentenced to five and half years, 33 months to be served in custody and 33 months to be served on licence.

Aaron Norman Cahoon, 28, and David John Gibson, 45, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting GBH with intent and were sentenced to four and a half years each, half of which will be served in custody and half on licence.

'Prolonged and vicious assault'

Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin from PSNI’s Criminal Investigation Branch welcomed the sentencing.

"There can be no excuse for this prolonged and vicious assault which left the victim with serious injuries and would have been extremely frightening for the staff and customers who were in the bar and witnessed the attack," he said.

“In many paramilitary-style attacks, securing statements from victims can be a challenge for police as there is fear of reprisal. In this case, there was no co-operation from the victim and witnesses but our robust investigation successfully led to the prosecution of five men involved.

"This should act as a warning to anyone involved in the violence associated with paramilitarism that we will work tirelessly to put them in front of the courts."

The police investigation into the assault remains open as detectives try to identify the other men involved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.