Belfast, Northern Ireland – Four men have been sentenced in Belfast Crown Court for their involvement in a vicious attack and kidnapping that occurred in Ballymena in 2021. The sentencing marks a conclusion to a horrifying case that shocked the community.
David Cherry, Glen Sheridan, Mark Bradshaw, and Sean Davies all appeared in court to receive their respective sentences. Cherry, aged 41, was sentenced to 62 months for grievances bodily harm and kidnapping. Sheridan, aged 45, received a 57-month sentence for his role in the kidnapping. Bradshaw, aged 53, was handed a 67-month sentence after pleading guilty to kidnapping. Davies, aged 41, received a 28-month sentence for arson.
The defendants were involved in a brutal attack on a man in a house in Ballymena on October 11, 2021. Detective Inspector McCoy described the assault as one of the most violent, sickening, and sadistic attacks he had ever investigated. The victim was subjected to a prolonged assault, forced to strip down to his boxer shorts, and made to use his clothes to clean up his own blood.
Throughout the harrowing attack, the victim was severely beaten, stabbed in the chest, and slashed on both sides of his face. The attackers continued their assault, kicking the victim while forcing him to wipe up the blood. The victim was later abandoned in a field near Broughshane, where he was found unconscious, wearing only boxer shorts.
The victim sustained severe injuries, including a stab wound to the chest, a fractured and detached jaw, injuries to his face and mouth, and a base of the skull fracture. He also suffered permanent damage to facial nerves, a blocked main artery to the brain, and a permanent brain injury. The victim spent weeks in intensive care under sedation, undergoing extensive medical treatment.
Detective Inspector McCoy highlighted the barbarity of the attack, stating that while the defendants have been held accountable for their actions, the victim and his family have been deeply affected by the senseless violence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the emotional and physical scars that can result from such acts of brutality.