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A Co Down man has been left "unrecognisable" following an attack in which his wife says the culprit "left him for dead".

Paschal Morgan, 48, had enjoyed a night out with a friend in Kilkeel on Sunday, July 14, when he left to be picked up by his daughter Shannon.

But when the 24-year-old arrived her dad was nowhere to be seen and assuming he had started walking home she started driving up the road when she made the horrifying discovery.

Speaking to Belfast Live, his wife of 25 years Rachel said her husband, a building contractor, suffered shattered eye sockets and cheekbones, bruising to the front of his brain, lacerations to his head and a possible broken jaw.

(Image: Family handout)

She added her husband's wallet was also taken and said it contained £150 and €450.

He has been transferred to the Ulster Hospital today as medics wait for swelling to go down before they assess what surgery is needed.

"He was out to kill him," said Rachel, 43.

"The family has been through enough with me losing my mum nine months ago and now all this.

"It is surreal, I said to Paschal's mum, who was a nurse, the first thing I kept thinking was, 'I need to ring my mum and tell her'. I know she was looking after him last night."

Rachel, who has daughter Shannon and 21-year-old son Christopher with her husband, added the family believe it was a sectarian attack and her husband was targeted because he comes from a well-known Catholic family in the area.

The dad-of-two had gone for a drink with a friend in the Kilmorey Arms Hotels in the town after 7pm on Sunday.

Rachel said there was an incident during the evening when her husband went to the toilet and another man asked his name and then if he was related to the Morgan family who ran a newspaper shop.

She added: "When he walked back out his friend asked him what it was about, the other guy had gone back to his table and spoke to another man who then got up and started shouting abuse over to him.

"The bouncers lifted him and threw him out when when he was thrown out.

"Paschal called my daughter at 11.10pm to say he couldn't get a taxi and would she come and pick him up. She said she was with her boyfriend and they were 10 minutes away."

(Image: Family handout)

But when his daughter got to the street to pick him up, she could not see her father. Assuming he had started walking home she drove up the Greencastle Road and that is when she spotted a white BMW with its door open on the opposite side of the road.

The couple then spotted a man running to the car and after this they saw her dad lying on the road.

"It is horrible and shocking but there are a lot of people supporting us," said Rachel.

"I am still in disbelief, how can someone be so evil, he was left for dead."

The attack, which happened on the Greencastle Road in Kilkeel on Sunday night, July 14, was reported to police at 11.25pm. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including grievous bodily harm with intent. He was later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Sergeant James Johnston said: "We received a report at 11.25pm that a male, aged in his forties, had been assaulted on the Greencastle Road, close to its junction with Manse Road.

"The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of head and facial injuries. He remains in hospital this afternoon.

"A 34-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including grievous bodily harm with intent, and he remains in custody this afternoon assisting us with our enquiries.

"I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area prior to, or around the time the report was made to us, to get in touch with detectives at Ardmore on 101, quoting reference 2103 14/07/19."

Alternatively information can also be provided by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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