Victim of Holylands racial attack hopes sentencing of perpetrators will give others confidence to come forward
The victim of a racist attack has said that he hopes the sentences handed down to the perpetrators will encourage other people to come forward and report attacks to the police.
Last month, 21-year-old Sam Croskery of Tullynakill Road in Comber was handed a 27-month sentence and 22-year-old Dylan Stuart Waggott of Cambourne Park in Newtownards, received a 22-month sentence for their role in the attack on a group of men in a property on Lawrence Street in South Belfast on 2 June 2021.
Stephen Kerr, 24, from Dunsy Green in Comber, acted as a driver and was handed a combination order consisting of 60 hours of community service and two years of Probation.
Read more: Belfast attack on asylum seekers leaves men fearing for their lives
Speaking to Belfast Live, one of the victims explained how the attack has had a lasting impact on him.
"I am still being treated for the impact of the attack," he said. "It has taken ages to get mental health support. I have had depression and have been living with the trauma but we barely received any mental health support in the aftermath.
"One of the other victims has moved elsewhere in the UK because he was fearful of his life if he stayed in Northern Ireland. He is not the same person I met when he came to Northern Ireland.
"The attack created huge stress for me and it really affected my marriage. My wife couldn't cope with the stress that I was under and I kept having nightmares about the attack."
The victim explained that in the aftermath of the attack he was left with anxiety and nighttime incontinence.
"I don't want to be just a victim, I am a survivor and by highlighting my case I hope I can give confidence to other asylum seekers to speak out if they are the victim of an attack," he said.
"I was determined that the pain we suffered that night wouldn't be for nothing and those who attacked us would have their day in court and that they would get what they deserved."
The victim told us that after the attack, he lost trust in the local community and started to notice more instances of racism.
"Since the attack, I have also suffered from vertigo. My vision goes foggy and there have been times when my wife has had to carry me to the toilet.
"I have had recurring nightmares and when I have woken up I have wet the bed.
"I wasn't expecting to see the people who did this get convicted but I hope this gives hope to any other asylum seekers to go to the police if they have been attacked."
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