'Drunken yobs' attack Italian students
"DRUNKEN yobs" have been blamed for a St Patrick's Day attack on three Italian students in Londonderry.
The attack, which took place at around 2am yesterday morning, close to a shop on Strand Road, resulted in one of the students sustaining a serious injury to his eye.
Police are now looking for two men in relation to the incident.
Condemning the assault, SDLP Londonderry councillor Mark H Durkan said: "I utterly condemn the individuals responsible for this attack which has now tarnished what otherwise has been hailed a peaceful and successful St Patrick's Day celebration here in the city.
"I hope that the victims have recovered from this ordeal and that they realise that the actions of these drunken yobs are not reflective of the vast majority of people in Derry."
He added: "I would appeal to anyone with information about this attack to bring it forward to the police so that these thugs can be brought to justice."
The first culprit is described as being approximately 5ft 6in, of a heavy build, with blond hair and a pierced tongue. He was wearing a blue pullover, jeans and white trainers.
The second male was tall and of a thin build with dark hair.
Meanwhile, drunken and loutish behaviour marred this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations in Portstewart, according to an elected representative.
UUP MLA David McClarty said he had been contacted by a number of people from the seaside resort, from both sides of the community, registering their disgust at the antics of a large number of young people who descended on the town throughout Wednesday.
Many of the people involved were students, the East Londonderry representative claimed.
"Portstewart has long been famed as a family resort where everyone is welcome regardless of class or creed," he said.
"I was therefore dismayed to receive reports regarding the behaviour of a significant number of people throughout Wednesday which ranged from drunkenness, fighting and urinating in people's gardens with no thought for people or their property.
"Indeed the scenes were described to me as 'a mini-Holylands' with reference to the disgraceful scenes which were witnessed in Belfast last year."
He added: "This is an absolute disgrace and is no way to remember Ireland's Patron Saint who brought Christianity to Ireland."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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Wind direction: North west
