I’m afraid I’ll be attacked again, says victim who was left for dead
The man who was left for dead following a sickening sectarian attack during which Catholic cross-community worker Kevin McDaid was murdered has said he is still struggling to rebuild his life.
Damien Fleming told the Belfast Telegraph that even though the police have helped him secure his Coleraine home he still fears that he may be targeted again.
Mr Fleming said he is still suffering physically and psychologically after being beaten by a loyalist mob.
The 46-year-old was left critically ill with head injuries after he and Mr McDaid were picked at random by the mob who rampaged through the Heights estate after Rangers won the Scottish Premiership in May.
Mr McDaid, a father-of-four, was killed as he tried to help Mr Fleming, who was the first to be set upon by the gang who went into the area to pull down republican flags erected earlier in the evening.
Mr Fleming was in hospital for a month and since his release has been struggling to piece his life back together.
“I have been trying to settle back home this past month or so but it is very hard. I am always very frightened, every minute I am frightened,” Mr Fleming said.
“I keep having flashbacks of that night and suffer from very bad panic attacks. I have to keep people around me all the time as I just can’t cope on my own. Physically I am not that great either. I have a constant ringing in my ears, it is like an alarm all the time and I get very bad headaches, but it is the panic that gets me.
“I won’t go too far from my house on my own, and I prefer to stay this side of the (River) Bann. I’m just worried about who might go after me next.
“I have been getting a bit of abuse on the streets. I was out with my sister the other day and a group of lads started shouting ‘Fenian b******’ at me.
“I have been very lucky in that my sisters and my cousins spend so much time with me and look out for me. Without them I don’t know what I would do.”
Mr Fleming said death threats have been made to members of his family, Mr McDaid’s family and other witnesses in the case.
“A lot of death threats have been issued, and as I am a witness that makes me even more nervous.
“But I must say the police have been good. They have been about quite a bit and have been calling to see me.
“They helped me with advice on how to secure my doors and windows.
“I didn’t want any of this and neither did Kevin. I just wish it was all over, I want to be able to live my life in peace.”
