Update: No sectarian link to wheelie bin incident says MLA

David McIlveen DUP MLA and Northern Ireland Policing Board representative commented: “I am led to believe that this incident was not a random attack, neither was it connected to paramilitaries or organised crime.

“What cannot be denied, regardless of motive, is that to leave a person for dead in a bin is a truly horrific and brutal act for anyone to be involved in.

“I hope those involved will bear the full consequences of the law for their actions and trust that the maximum penalties possible will be applied to them. I would also appeal to anyone who can provide information to contact the PSNI in Ballymena.”

Police have yet to confirm the full details of the incident. They have indicated that a man was taken away in an ambulance from Sentry Hill following ‘an incident’ in the Sentry Hill area late yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

It has been claimed that a young man from the local area was found ‘taped up, beaten and scorched’ in a wheelie bin in the area. It is understood he was found by a member of the public who contacted police.

Police sources have since indicated that the victim had lacerations and cuts to his body but added that it was ‘not certain’ that he had sustained burns.