Gilbert Thompson - whose son Darren was shot dead in a loyalist feud in 2004 - was set upon in broad daylight and savagely beaten as he made his to his way to a local cricket club to watch a pool competition on May 15.

Mr. Thompson (45) from the Brigade area, sustained serious injuries in the assault - including a torn spleen, broken ribs and fractures to his back, cheekbone and nose - is expected to be remain in Altnagelvin Hospital for some time.

Mr.Thompson last night told the 'Journal' that he believed he was attacked because he asked questions over the killing of his 22 year-old son. Darren Thompson was found lying on the roadside at Woodburn Park in the Waterside with a bullet wound to his head in September 2004.
Two men were jailed last November in connection with the killing although no one has been convicted of the murder which had been blamed on the UDA.

On New Year's Day past Mr. Thompson came in contact with a man who supported the two jailed men during their court appearance and challenged him to disclose why his son had been murdered.

"I didn't strike him or anything, I just reached for him but was pulled back. I wanted to know why my son Darren was killed almost four years ago. That might have been why I was assaulted."

He added: "I believe I was singled out because of the way they took me out in that alleyway. I'd been watched and I'd been singled out, I don't know why."

All Mr. Thompson recalled of the attack was being "kicked and punched". "The next thing I remember is a man and woman phoning the ambulence for me."

He said that the further trauma for his family was "devastating".

"It hs really scared me now, I can't say anything. My family is scared. I hope that something like this will never happen again. I'd just like to know why they did this to me - I can hardly breath now and I don't know why they have done this."