29 April 2004 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Man dies after racist assault

An Asian man, Brig Sharma, has died in hospital following a racist assault in the early hours of Saturday 24 April.

The man, in his 30s, was attacked outside a friend's home in Rockview Park in Moneymore, County Derry, by two men who shouted racist abuse during the assault.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died in hospital on Tuesday night 27 April.

Two men, aged 25 and 20, appeared in court on Tuesday 27 April in connection with the attack. One was accused of committing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage, while the other faced charges of intimidation and criminal damage.

It is believed the two men will now face murder charges.

And a racist arson attack on the home of four Romanian workers in Ballymena, County Antrim in the early hours of Sunday morning 25 April was deplorable, said Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan. Scorch damage was caused when petrol was poured through the letterbox of the house on the Cullybackey Road aound 5am but no one was injured.

Speaking to An Phoblacht, McGuigan pointed the finger at the UDA and their cohorts in the White National Party, who have been trying to stir up racial tensions in the Ballymena area by bombarding the area with racist leaflets and posters.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland