Glue sniffers jailed for attack

A judge has jailed three glue sniffers for a total of four years for a "horrific, violent and degrading" attack on their friend in Belfast.

Belfast Crown Court heard on Friday that Patrick Kilmartin was stripped, kicked and punched in a squat in Cameron Street, in the south of the city, last year because he would not share lighter fuel.

The court heard he was beaten by Stephen Wayne McCrory, 23, of Disraeli Court, Belfast, Thomas Grainger, 19, of Silverstream Crescent and Krystal Addley, 20, from Woodstock Link.

When Mr Kilmartin refused to share lighter fuel with them he was punched him in the face, stripped and beaten with large wooden batons.

Mr Kilmartin was attacked and left in an appalling condition for nearly a day before help was called.

The 24-year-old has only recently been able to walk again with the aid of a walking frame.

McCrory who was said to have played a prominent role in the attack was jailed for two and a half years.

Addley was sent to prison for eight months and Grainger is to be detained in a young offenders centre for a year, with another year's probation.