Three men arrested after suspected paramilitary style attack

By Cate McCurry, PA

Three men have been arrested after a suspected paramilitary-style attack in Newtownabbey.

Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin said one suspect, aged 44, is believed to have been one of two men who ordered the victim to attend the area to receive a beating shortly after midnight on Sunday.

A passing police patrol intervened and arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon, and remains in custody.

The victim, a 37-year-old man, was arrested a short time later following a further altercation and was subsequently charged to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court at a later date in relation to disorderly behaviour, assault on police and possession of an offensive weapon.

A second suspect in the original attack, a 39-year-old-man, was arrested on Sunday afternoon and remains in custody.

Mr McCubbin said: "We are continuing with our inquiries into this incident and would ask anyone with any information or anyone who drove past Cloughfern roundabout at the time of the assault and has dash-cam footage to contact detectives in Antrim."