The editor of the Northern Ireland edition of the Sunday World, Jim McDowell, was badly beaten in an assault in central Belfast yesterday. Mr McDowell was attacked by four men outside Belfast City Hall.
Less than two weeks ago his car was vandalised outside Craigavon court where he was covering a hearing of a number of men charged in connection with the Loyalist Volunteer Force murder of Sunday Worldjournalist Martin O'Hagan in 2001.