A man suffered serious injuries outside a licensed venue on Ballymoney Street, Ballymena

A 20-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent following a violent assault outside a bar in Ballymena, County Antrim.

The incident occurred shortly after 2am on Sunday morning on Ballymoney Street, a central thoroughfare lined with shops and nightlife spots. Police received reports of a serious altercation outside a licensed premises, prompting a swift response from both officers and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered a man with serious injuries. Paramedics administered treatment at the scene before transporting him to hospital for further care. His current condition has not been publicly disclosed, but police described the attack as a “serious assault.”

The suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and has since been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent. He is expected to appear before a magistrates’ court in the coming days.

Detectives have appealed for witnesses or anyone with mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area around the time of the assault to come forward. A police spokesperson said: “We are urging anyone who was in the area of Ballymoney Street around 2am on Sunday morning and may have witnessed the incident, or captured footage of the events leading up to or following the assault, to contact us immediately. Your assistance could be vital to our investigation.”

The attack has sparked concern among local residents, with many expressing unease about rising violence in the town centre during weekend nightlife hours. Several business owners on Ballymoney Street have called for increased patrols and a stronger visible police presence.

“It’s worrying,” said one shopkeeper, who asked not to be named. “There’s a lot of people coming through here at night, especially on the weekends. Incidents like this make people feel unsafe, and it’s bad for everyone – for the pubs, for the shops, for the community.”

Local councillor Sandra Devlin said she was “deeply troubled” by the incident and offered her support to the victim and their family. “Violence of any kind is unacceptable,” she said. “The community must be able to enjoy their town safely, without fear. I’ll be speaking with police about what additional safety measures can be taken.”

The bar outside which the incident took place has not issued a public statement, though it is understood staff assisted emergency services when the situation unfolded.

Police are continuing to examine CCTV from the area as part of their ongoing investigation. Ballymoney Street remained partially cordoned off for several hours on Sunday morning while forensic officers conducted their work, though it has since reopened.

This is the second serious assault reported in the Ballymena area in recent months. Local residents are now urging for a stronger crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence, particularly in areas where people gather in the early hours after bars close.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact detectives on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 216 of 23 June 2025. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers.