This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7074216.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Assault pensioner critically ill Pensioner attack 'murder attempt'
(about 2 hours later)
A 70-year-old man assaulted in County Armagh is in a critical condition in hospital. Police are treating as attempted murder an assault which left a 70-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital.
He was found by a member of the public in an alleyway at Churchill Park in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown. He was found by a member of the public in an alleyway at Churchill Park in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown at about 1700 GMT on Thursday.
He was taken to nearby Craigavon Area Hospital, but was later transferred by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.He was taken to nearby Craigavon Area Hospital, but was later transferred by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
A man has been arrested following the incident, which took place at about 1700 GMT on Thursday. A man has been arrested, and police have appealed for information.
Detectives have appealed for information and are still investigating a motive for the assault, although they do not believe the attack was sectarian. Detectives say they are keeping an open mind about what motivated the assault, although they do not believe the attack was sectarian.
The scene was cordoned off as forensic officers examined the area. Chief Superintendent Alan Todd said it was "a vicious attack".
Sinn Fein assembly member John O'Dowd said: "This is a tight-knit community, and while there has been difficulties in this area with anti-social behaviour, an attack of this nature is unheard of. "Given the extent of the victim's injuries, police are treating this as attempted murder," he said.
"Particularly with such an elderly gentleman. The community is quite literally in shock tonight." "The attack happened at five o'clock last night and although it was dark, there were plenty of people about."
Sinn Fein assembly member John O'Dowd said the local community was in shock.
"While there has been difficulties in this area with anti-social behaviour, an attack of this nature is unheard of, particularly with such an elderly gentleman," he said.