Belfast City Centre
Royal Avenue assault victim speaks out following facial surgery
Specialists have warned him that he may have no feeling in his chin for up to six months
Orlaith Clinton
Barry Gill
A man who went out in Belfast to celebrate his birthday needed significant facial surgery after he was attacked.
Barry Gill, 37, suffered a broken jaw and fractured chin following a "serious assault" outside Spar on Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre on Saturday, July 6.
The dad-of-one spoke to Belfast Live following his surgery and said that he has been left without any feeling in his chin.
He said: "At the end of my birthday night out me and my friend went to McDonald's before we were due to go home.
"I was walking towards Castle Street and came across one man who was being sectarian to some passers by and he was trying to hit them.
Springfield Road shooting - man taken to hospital after being shot in the legs
"He was swinging punches so I ran over to break it up and I was attacked.
"The next thing was I woke up on the floor alone.
"The following day my face was disfigured badly. I went to A&E and found out that I had sustained a broken jaw and fractured chin.
"I had no feeling in my face and found out later that day that a nerve in my chin had been split."
Barry, who works in a local communications centre, underwent surgery which left him out of work for two weeks.
The West Belfast man said: "I had to get two plates in my chin to help pull the nerve back and to fix the fracture.
"I am currently being seen by a dental specialist who has warned me that I may not have any feeling in my chin for the next six months.
"I will never be back in town again. I am so angry with the guy who done this but I don't think people who do things like this think about the damage that their actions can do to people.
Vanman reverses into elderly lady at Connswater disabled parking bay
"This attack has really changed my life. My face looks like I've taken a stroke."
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward following the assault.
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police are investigating a serious assault which occurred on Saturday 6 July at approximately 0130 hours outside the Spar in Royal Avenue.
"Police want to identify one male suspect described as white, approximately 20-25 years of age, 5 foot 11, dirty fair hair which was shaved at the side of his head and longer on top.
"He was wearing a cream jumper, grey tracksuit bottoms and trainers. The male had a local Belfast accent and smokes.
"If you have any information as to the identity of this male, please contact Police on the non-emergency number of 101 and quote reference number 1083 of 8/7/19."
How to follow us on social media
Here's our main Belfast Live Facebook page.
On Twitter, you can follow our account by clicking here.
If you're a lover of photos, then check out our Instagram.
We've also got dedicated Facebook pages for North, South, East and West Belfast, as well as courts and crime.
Sports fans can find all the latest local action over on our Belfast Live Sport Facebook and Twitter and also on Match Online on both Facebook and Twitter.