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Son 'scared to return home' after sectarian attack

Elaine McGee
BBC News NI
Tess Curran A man with a beard is seen in a navy hooded jacket. He has a black eye and a number of cuts around his nose and face. Tess Curran
Connor Muirhead, 21, sustained facial injuries in the suspected sectarian attack

A young autistic man who was injured in what is being treated as a sectarian attack in Londonderry is too afraid to return to home following the assault, his mother has said.

Connor Muirhead, 21, who also has severe epilepsy, was walking with a friend in the Waterside when he was set upon by a group of men and needed hospital treatment for his injuries, his mother Tess Curran has said.

Ms Curran believes her son was targeted because he is a Catholic.

The police are treating the attack, which happened shortly after midnight on Monday, as a sectarian hate crime.

On Tuesday, the police said that one man, in his 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Tess Curran A woman with long shoulder-length red hair and green eyes is staring at a sideward angle towards the camera. She is wearing a red jumper and a cabinet can be seen in the background. Tess Curran
Tess Curran says she believes her son was targeted because of his religion

Ms Curran told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that the attack started after a group shouted at her son and his friend.

She said Connor and his friend were chased and then he got punched in the face.

"He passed out and he woke up to a group of guys kicking him in the head and Connor tried to protect his head, but it didn't work."

Ms Curran said she her son was now too afraid to return to where he was living in the Waterside.

"His face is all swollen and we are waiting on the results of scans to see the extent of his injuries," she said.

'Angry and devastated'

"I am angry and devastated that it happened to my child.

"He had moved out to get some independence.

"It's shocking and that is why I am speaking out as this needs to stop.

"I am heartbroken.

"Every time I see the injuries his face, I just feel so angry and I cannot believe this is happening in my own town."

Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster are both standing beside each other. Andrew Forster is
Church leaders previously appealed for calm following a spate of incidents in the city at the weekend

The assault on Monday follows a series of incidents in Derry over the weekend.

Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster condemned the incidents and appealed for no escalation.