LISTEN: Church secretary left badly shaken following 'vicious assault' at parochial house in Ballymena

By Q Radio News

A Church secretary has been left badly shaken following a "vicious assault" at a Parochial House in Ballymena. 

The woman was confronted by a man, who is believed to have been intoxicated, when she responded to a knock on the door of Kirkinriola Parish at 4pm yesterday afternoon.  

Father Paddy Delargy was in his office when the attacker was referred to the Vincent De Paul Centre after demanding £40 from the church worker. 

"He viciously assaulted her but she was able to escape and come back in again," he said. 

"By the time I got to the door the person had disappeared. 

"He seems to have struck her, there was no doubt about that, but then she was able to get inside and then he started flinging things about and he took pots of flowers and threw them all over the place and he took a table and smashed the table."

The male attacker - described as wearing a black coat, blue jeans, brown boots, a scarf and a black beanie hat - fled the scene on the Broughshane Road on a black bicycle. 

Footage of the incident - which was captured on CCTV - has been shared with police - who are appealing for information.  

"Police are investigating an assault that occurred in the area of Broughshane Road and Cushendall Road Ballymena at approx 1600 on Thursday 20th February 2020," a PSNI statement said. 

"We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with Dashcam footage.

"Were you in the area?
"Did you see anything suspicious?

"We are particularly keen for any information in relation to a male described as wearing a black coat, possibly with black adidas jacket underneath, blue Jeans, brown boots, a scarf and a black beanie hat riding a black bicycle.

"If you believe you have any information you can contact police on 101 quoting reference 1244 20/02/20."