MAN LOSES FINGER IN HORROR KNIFE ATTACK

24-year-old is battered by gang

A MAN’S finger was cut off when he was battered by a knife-wielding gang in a street attack.

The 24-year-old said he was set upon after he left a house party to call a taxi home on the Antrim Road in North Belfast.

But before the Ormeau Road man could get a booking, he was attacked by four males who he said tried to stab him in the throat. His sister told the Sunday Mirror: “My brother was with another person who had been at the same house party.

“It was about 5am and dark and suddenly four men, two older and two younger, just seemed to appear out of nowhere, and they launched an attack on my brother.

“He was able to tell me they lunged at his neck with a knife and he put his arm up to protect himself and they cut off the little finger on his right hand.

“He also suffered head injuries but he’s not clear what happened.”

An ambulance initially took the kitchen porter to the Mater Hospital but he was advised he needed to go to the Royal Victoria Hospital to see if his finger could be reattached. His sister said: “He wasn’t able to get an ambulance and the staff at the Mater advised him he should get a taxi to the RVH.

“The taxi driver insisted on taking him to the RVH and when got there he was told he needed plastic surgery on his hand at the Ulster Hospital and no one would be available until Monday.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to call 101.