Police appeal after man hit by hatchet in Saintfield attack

Police appeal after man hit by hatchet in Saintfield attack

1 January 2019

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was struck on the head with a hatchet in Saintfield in the early hours of Boxing Day.

Detectives say three men called to the front door of a house in Queens Park shortly after midnight. 

One man brandished a hatchet while the other two are believed to have been armed with iron bars.

The victim received a small cut to his head but his injury is not believed to be serious.

One of the attackers is described by police as being 6’ tall with short dark hair and wearing a dark hooded-top and tracksuit bottoms. 

The second man is described as being 5’6” in height, of heavy build wearing a navy hooded top and tracksuit bottoms. 

The third man is around 5’8” in height and of slim build.

Police particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw a dark coloured Renault Clio with ‘R’ plates in the area at the time of the incident.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area can contact them on 101 quoting reference number 86 27/12/18. 

Local politicians have raised concerns about what they fear is a worsening situation in Saintfield as it is the third violent attack in the area in recent weeks.

Strangford MP Jim Shannon condemned the latest incident as “vicious”.

“This is the third attack in the last eight weeks and the viciousness of the attack involved the use of a hatchet and an iron bar. The intention to maim and injure or worse is obvious,” he said.

“There is a level of fear in Saintfield and there’s a need for the PSNI to remain in control in Queens Park and to restore law and order to the area. 

“Those in the gang of three with balaclavas and weapons must be removed off the streets of the Saintfield district.”

He added that he had written to the PSNI to seek an urgent meeting. 

Rowallane councillor Billy Walker also condemned the attack and said he “feared that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed”.

The DUP man added: “This has to stop as it seems to be getting worse.

“The good people of Saintfield do not want this in the community and I urge the PSNI to bring the people responsible to court soon so that they feel the full weight of the law.

“The PSNI must ensure that there is enough officers in the community as the feeling from the community is that there is not enough visible policing in the area.”

Mr Walker added that he would be meeting with police later this week to address the matters.