Soldier recovers after horrific brick attack

BATTERED and bruised . . . Patrick after the attack

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Two tours of Iraq without a scratch, then he spent a night in Oldham...
THESE are the horrific injuries suffered by a Royton soldier when a night out in Oldham town centre ended in violence.

Patrick McQuaid spent four hours in surgery having pieces of brick and skull removed from his brain following an attack in Union Street at 3.35am on December 12.

The 25-year-old, a Lance Corporal with the Duke of Lancaster Regiment for the past eight years, escaped injury during his two tours of war torn Basra in Iraq.

The father-of-one has had to take time off to recover from his injuries but is hoping to return to action soon.

He said: “I’m on the road to recovery now but I’m getting migraines every day and my confidence has dropped. Doctors said it could take me a long time to fully recover.”

Police are appealing for a group of girls who were seen in Union Street shortly before the attack took place to contact them.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161-856 8951 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

James Osbourne (22) of Zealand Street, Watersheddings, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and will appear at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on April 5.