Youth beaten by gang in Belfast

A 15-year-old youth was recovering in hospital yesterday after being beaten by a gang in west Belfast on Saturday evening.

A 15-year-old youth was recovering in hospital yesterday after being beaten by a gang in west Belfast on Saturday evening.

The youth had just joined a group of friends in Norglen Gardens after attending Mass nearby when the men approached and told his friends to leave. They then attacked the youth for several minutes, knocking him unconscious. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man is due to appear at Coleraine Magistrates' Court this morning charged with grievous bodily harm with intent following an assault in Portstewart, Co Derry, on Friday night in which a 26year-old man suffered stab wounds to his arms.

The RUC has released the name of a man who died at the weekend from injuries sustained in an assault at Derramore Drive, Derry, on January 6th. He was Mr Raymond Charles Kennedy, 32, from Strathfoyle, Derry.