Man charged with attempted murder of teenager

A 19-year-old was tonight charged with the attempted murder of a university student who was seriously injured in a Christmas …

A 19-year-old was tonight charged with the attempted murder of a university student who was seriously injured in a Christmas Eve stabbing in Co Down.

The man is due to appear at Newtownards Magistrates Court tomorrow, said police.

Three other men being questioned about the attack on Queen's University student Grant Dugan, also 19, have been released without charge.

However police said they had today arrested two more people on suspicion they were involved in the brutal attack.

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Grant Dugan has undergone two operations on his brain since the attack in which he was stabbed several times with a bottle in the centre of Newtownards, in the early hours of December 24.

He was walking through the town's Conway Square eating a take-away after a night out when they were approached by a gang.

The students tried to flee but were cornered in nearby Meetinghouse Lane and set upon. The friend, William McAllister escaped with minor injuries but Grant was badly beaten and stabbed with the bottle.