Bushmills: Man nailed to fence in ‘sinister attack’
A male individual has been transported to the hospital after enduring a severe assault at a car park in Bushmills, County Antrim, during the early hours of Sunday morning.
The victim, aged in his twenties, was discovered affixed to a fence with nails piercing each of his hands shortly after midnight. Additionally, two vans, including one belonging to the injured party, were found ablaze in the car park vicinity near Dundarave Park.
Authorities have indicated that paramilitary involvement is a significant avenue of investigation. Graffiti found on nearby public restroom facilities has been linked to the assault and subsequent arson.
According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the victim sustained injuries that could potentially alter his life trajectory but are not deemed life-threatening.
Describing the incident as “sinister,” law enforcement officials condemned the perpetrators for their actions, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the community.
Emergency responders from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the scene, where both vehicles suffered extensive damage.
Reportedly, the victim was transported to the hospital aboard a fire engine.
Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton characterized the incident as deeply disturbing, suggesting a level of violence that exceeds typical norms.
While investigations are ongoing, Singleton highlighted the resemblance of the incident to paramilitary-style attacks, indicating it as a primary focus.
Despite occurring in a residential area, the car park also serves holiday lets and experienced heightened activity due to the bank holiday weekend.
The aftermath of the incident, marked by the smell of burnt wreckage, confronted arriving tourists at the car park, renowned for its park-and-ride services and proximity to a housing estate along the Main Street of the village.
Approximately twenty individuals residing in mobile homes and camper vans were disturbed by the commotion and emergency lights during the early hours, expressing shock at the unsettling events unfolding in a typically tranquil tourist destination.
BBC News NI spoke to Jackie – who was staying in her camper van when the incident took place.
“I saw the fire and I just hoped it was nothing to do with the campers, I put on my dressing gown and flip-flops and went out,” she said.
“One of the campers was a nurse and tried to help,” she added.
“I just thought: ‘This is awful to happen in a place like Bushmills – they’re trying to promote tourism and this has happened’,” she added.
Causeway Alliance councilor Alderman Richard Stewart said it was a “horrific attack.”
“This is not wanted in Bushmills, it’s not wanted in Northern Ireland. This is a thing of the past”, he said.”The local community is in deep shock at the nature and brutality of this attack.”
TUV leader Jim Allister expressed his “dismay at the gruesome and cruel attack carried out in the village”.
The PSNI is appealing for any witnesses or those who may have dashcam footage to contact them.
