PSNI ‘protecting UDA attackers’

A “circle of silence” is protecting those who attacked a Derry man eight years ago and left him needing round-the-clock care, according to his father.

Paul McCauley was set upon by a loyalist mob as he attended a barbecue with friends in the Waterside. The 37-year-old suffered severe head injuries and during the trial of the only man convicted in connection with the attack, the court heard that his life expectancy was 10-15 years from the time of the assault.

His father, James McCauley, said that fact hangs over the family as eight years have now passed.

The Independent Monitoring Commission said the unionist paramilitary UDA was involved in the attack on the father-of-one and up to 15 people are believed to have taken part.

One man, Daryl Proctor from Derry, received a 12-year prison sentence and is due for release next year. Proctor was 15 when he took part in the attack and originally went on trial for attempted murder but pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard both Mr McCauley and his friend, Mark Lynch, had either been kicked in the head or had their heads stamped on.

Mr McCauley said the family is frustrated at both the PSNI investigation and the fact some people are protecting those who left his son for dead.

“Eight years on the frustration is that almost all those responsible haven’t been brought before the court.

“We’re told there’s progress made in the investigation and it’s ongoing and the fact that police publicly said they know the names of those involved in the attack but to date they haven’t brought them before the courts, that’s the biggest frustration.”

Mr McCauley said it was difficult to accept that Proctor was entitled to 50 per cent remission and would be released from prison next year “when the victims have absolutely no remission”.

He called on the “wider circle that protects those people by their silence” to pass information to the police so that his son’s attackers can be caught.

Urgent Appeal