Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Left for dead over 4 hours after being beaten up at wedding
Andrew fights for life following surgery
A FATHER of two was left for dead for up to four hours when he was beaten up after leaving a wedding party.
Andrew Barr was found lying in a grass area near the Leighinmohr Hotel in Ballymena, Co Antrim, at 6am on Friday.
The well-known fitness instructor was left with severe brain injuries and a punctured lung and he is fighting for his life after surgery.
Speaking from his bedside at the Royal Victoria Hospital his mum Amanda said she was “numb”.
She added: “We’re just glad he’s still with us. He needs to be for his two little boys.”
Police are trying to trace the 32-yearold’s last movements and speak to anyone who was in his company at the party, especially between 1am and 2.30am.
Amanda revealed: “He left the wedding party and was set upon.
“He was found by the night porter at about 6am and he had left the wedding party at 2am. He’s in a very bad way. He has a blood clot on his brain, there’s one on his temple they can’t operate on because it’s so deep.
“One of his injuries is consistent with the toe marks of shoes.
“He can speak and they’re happy with his limited progress – but it’s day by day.
“He’s dealing with the after-effects of a brain injury where he’s actually been in theatre.
“He is in an awful lot of pain and he’s just concentrating on trying to get through the next few days.”
Andrew is dad to Sam, four, and two-yearold James and his mum said the family were told at one stage he may not make it. He remains critical.
She added: “I’m numb.
We’re taking small steps and just taking every day as it comes.
“We can’t let people like this do this. If they’ve done it once there’s a possibility it would happen again.
“We need people to be able to go out for a night and be safe.
“If anyone saw anything please contact the police.
“This is just wrong. No one should suffer like Andrew has.
“The injuries he has been inflicted with are life-threatening ones.
“I have to deal with what I’ve got today and that’s Andrew.
“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what we’ve gone through.
“Had this been later in the year, had he been lying in the cold he may not be with us.
“We’re fortunate it was a mild night.
“I just want to prick somebody’s conscience. Somebody knows what has happened here. Somebody knows who’s done this.”
A police spokesman said: “At approximately 6am, it was reported to police a man, aged in his 30s, was found in a grass area close to a licensed commercial premises and had serious head injuries.
“The man was subsequently taken to hospital where he remains seriously ill following surgery.
“Police would like to hear from anyone who was socialising in the man’s company earlier that evening at a function he attended in the Leighinmohr Avenue area.
“In particular police would like to hear from anyone who was with the man between the hours of 1am and 2.30am.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives in Ballymena on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 168 08/09/17.
“Alternatively information can be passed anonymously through the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”
I’m numb. We’re just glad he’s still with is. He needs to be for his two little boys ANDREW BARR’S MUM AMANDA ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL YESTERDAY