A man had his nose broken nose during a homophobic assault on the Dublin to Belfast train, police said.

Four men attacked the victim, 51, and shouted abuse at him while they travelled between Newry and Portadown late last night.

He had his laptop smashed and his i Pod Nano and two sets of earphones stolen. He attended a nearby hospital for treatment for the broken nose and minor head injuries.

A police spokeswoman said: "Hate crime is unacceptable, no one deserves to experience it and no one deserves to get away with it. To stop it, report it, do not suffer in silence."

The attackers left the train in Portadown and police appealed for information.