Newspaper editor attacked in city

Jim McDowell is the editor of the Sunday World

The editor of the Northern Ireland editon of the Sunday World has been beaten up in the centre of Belfast.

Jim McDowell, 60, was attacked by two men at about 1750 GMT on Wednesday while he attended the Continental Market in the grounds of City Hall.

Mr McDowell was injured in the head, arms and legs, but did not need hospital treatment.

The attack happened less than two weeks after his car was vandalised outside Craigavon court house.

He attended a hearing involving a number of men who were charged in connection with the murder of one of his reporters, Martin O'Hagan

Mr O'Hagan was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in Lurgan, County Armagh, in September 2001.

Mr McDowell has been threatened several times before by loyalists and republicans.

He said drug dealers were to blame for attacking him on Wednesday night.

"What does it say about the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press?" he said.

A police spokesperson, who appealed for information, said one of the attackers was described as being about 5ft 9ins tall, clean shaven with a pale complexion.

He was wearing a black hooded top and a distinctive black striped woolly hat.

The second man is described as being of stocky build. He had hair cropped at the sides and was bald on top. He was wearing a red jacket and dark trousers.