Brothers in hospital after New Year hammer attack in Bethnal Green

08 January 2010

TWO brothers have begun 2010 in hospital with serious facial injuries after being attacked by a gang of youths with hammers on New Year's Eve.

Thomas and David Barry were both undergoing facial reconstruction surgery for a shattered jaw and eye socket this week after they were beaten by the gang who first attacked Thomas's son and his 16-year-old girlfriend.

The family had been celebrating the New Year in the Angel and Crown pub in Roman Road, Bethnal Green but the peace was shattered when Tomas's son ran into the pub saying he and his girlfriend had been attacked.

Dad Thomas and his brother David rushed outside to help the pair but were set upon by a gang of up to 30 youths armed with hammers.

Thomas's wife Bridget said: "They hit my husband in the head with a hammer four times. He went down on the fourth blow.

"I came out of the pub and saw him lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. I thought he was dead."

Bridget, who lives in Grove Road, said her husband had suffered deep cuts and bruising to his head, a broken foot and had surgery to piece his eye socket back together on Monday.

But she said her brother-in-law was in an even worse state and needed facial reconstructive surgery to repair his jaw, which had been broken in six places, and a broken palate.

Bridget's 18-year-old son escaped with minor injuries but his 16-year-old girlfriend needed eight stitches to her head and ear after she was hit in the side of the head with a vodka bottle.

Police confirmed they were investigating an assault in which three people were seriously injured at the junction of Smart Street and Roman Road at 10.45pm on New Year's Eve.

A spokesman said the suspects are all aged 16-18 and are Asian. One suspect is described as fat with black spiky hair and was wearing a black jacket.

Tower Hamlets Police's violent crime unit are appealing for witnesses to the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Sgt Iain Harkes on 020 7275 4546 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.