Knife attacks and beatings blight town

A 21-year-old was stabbed several times and a 30-year-old man stabbed once following an incident in the Brookvale Walk area of Taghnevan last Saturday afternoon. Both were later discharged after being treated at Craigavon Hospital.

Damien James McMahon, aged 28, from Brookvale Walk, appeared in court on Monday charged with three counts of criminal damage of a police cell, unlawfully possessing a kitchen knife in a public place, two counts of possession of class B drugs including cannabis and diazepam, grievous bodily harm to Thomas Coleman and to Conor Mallon. He was remanded in custody to August 13.

Meanwhile 23-year-old Paul Cassidy remains critically ill but in a stable condition at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital following an incident in Liscorran Court, Lurgan last Thursday July 25.

Caolan Coleman, aged 18, of Castle Lane Lurgan, has appeared in Lisburn Magistrates Court accused of attempting to murder Mr Cassidy.

The incident happened at around 3.30am on Thursday morning at the Ulster Street housing complex. It is understood Mr Cassidy has serious injuries to his head and face after he was attacked with a golf club. Caolan Coleman was remanded in custody to Hydebank Young Offenders Centre.

And in a separate incident, Sinn Fein activist Matt Rooney was badly beaten as he walked home from a wedding on Saturday night in Lurgan town centre.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein Councillor Liam Mackle called for more regulations to the private rent sector following the stabbings in Taghnevan at the weekend. He said it was ‘deplorable’ particularly when it happened close to where young children were playing.

Mr Mackle claimed there had been numerous complaints about noise and boisterous behaviour at a privately rented house in Brookvale Walk.

“Public and private landlords have a duty to those living beside their property as well as to their tenants and the law needs to reflect this.”