Belfast, Northern Ireland – Four individuals have been handed sentences for their involvement in a vicious and cruel attack on a man in Ballymena in 2021. The perpetrators, identified as David Cherry, Glen Sheridan, Mark Bradshaw, and Sean Davies, all faced charges related to the brutal incident before the Belfast Crown Court.
Cherry, aged 41, received a 62-month sentence after pleading guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm and kidnapping. Sheridan, 45, who previously admitted to kidnapping, was sentenced to 57 months. Bradshaw, 53, also pleaded guilty to kidnapping and was given a 67-month sentence. Davies, 41, pleaded guilty to arson and received a 28-month sentence.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the victim had endured a nightmarish ordeal at a residence in Ballymena on October 11, 2021. Detective Inspector McCoy described the attack as one of the most violent and horrendous incidents he had ever investigated. The victim was subjected to severe beatings, forced to strip to his underwear, and compelled to clean up his own blood with his clothing.
The assailants inflicted further harm by stabbing the victim in the chest and slashing his face. Throughout the ordeal, the victim was continuously kicked and taunted by the defendants. Eventually, he was left unconscious in a field near Broughshane, wearing only his boxer shorts. The victim’s car was later discovered burnt-out on the outskirts of Ballymena.
Following the heinous assault, the victim was hospitalized and placed in intensive care under sedation for several weeks. The extent of his injuries was extensive, including a stab wound to the chest, jaw fractures, facial injuries, and brain damage. The victim sustained permanent nerve damage, artery blockage, and a lasting brain injury as a result of the vicious attack.
Despite the lengthy investigation and legal process, the investigative team expressed sadness over the enduring impact of the senseless violence on the victim and his family. The perpetrators have been brought to justice, but the emotional and physical scars left by the barbaric act are indelible, serving as a stark reminder of the lasting trauma inflicted on the victim.