It's been hell, says brother of tragic Conan Anderson

Conan Anderson, 22, died in hospital on Saturday.

Mr Anderson, from the Short Strand, was hurt at Arthur Lane in the early hours of February 6 and admitted to hospital later that day.

Police are now treating his death as murder.

Mr Anderson’s brother, Brendan, said it was an extremely hard time for the family and described the past two weeks as “pure and utter hell”.

He told the BBC: “He was an innocent thing, big and tall, but like a teddy bear.”

He said his brother had a mark on his jaw like he had been punched and he was very confused so an ambulance was called.

“He kept lying down and standing up and trying to clap his hands, but he couldn’t say a word.

“It was very frightening.

“When we got him to the hospital we were told he had horrific brain injuries, he had a fractured skull and was internally bleeding.”

Mr Anderson asked anyone who saw anything, or might know what happened to his brother, to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said a 27-year-old man was arrested in north Belfast on Thursday February 9 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and later released on police bail.

He added: “I am now treating Conan’s death as murder and I am appealing for anyone with any information about the incident at Arthur Lane in the early hours of Monday February 6 or any information which could be of assistance to my investigation to contact detectives.”