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PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffed said they were "kicked and beaten with iron bars before being taken to Mullah village, where they were further assaulted by a number of individuals and covered in paint.
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffed said they were "kicked and beaten with iron bars before being taken to Mullah village, where they were further assaulted by a number of individuals and covered in paint.
“Both men were taken to hospital by police, one of the males has been arrested and the other remains in hospital being treated for his injuries.
“Unfortunately, now, due to the violent actions of a small number of people, we have had to redirect resources and efforts towards investigating a serious assault. There is no excuse for individuals taking the law into their own hands nor for the violent scenes that we witnessed last night,” she added, according to a statement by the PSNI.
Police had information that the pair had been approaching children. They became friends after Lydiard, from County Down, left jail earlier this year following a seven-month sentence for ignoring a court order banning him from online dating sites. He has nine convictions for sexual assault, assaults causing harm and threats to kill.
White, from South Armagh, has been convicted of five sexual assault charges and 62 previous convictions in all, including sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm and threats to kill.