The Mayor of Ards and North Down has told of his 85-year-old mother's 'traumatic' ordeal in Belfast city centre.
Councillor Mark Brooks' mum, who wishes to remain unnamed, was walking back to her car with her husband after a concert when a unknown man attempted to take her handbag.
The incident happened at around 10.25pm on Thursday, May 12 at Great Victoria Street.
Read more: Woman in her 80s sustains head injury in 'terrifying' city centre ordeal
His mother, who is from Hillsborough, hit her head on a metal bollard and was taken to hospital with a head injury.
Mayor Brooks told Belfast Live : "My mum and dad had went in to see a show at the Opera House. My understanding is they parked their car in the Europa car park and on their way back to get the car, that is when it happened.
"When the incident happened, the staff of the Europa Hotel came out and they were really good. They brought her into the hotel and looked after her until the ambulance came.
"They were 150% of what was required and they were hospitable in the middle of all this trauma. Everybody in the hotel was fantastic and I absolutely want to give my thanks to them."
The Mayor told how shocked he was and explained that he seen a lot of blood when he got to the scene.
Cllr Brooks said: "I got a phone call at 11.30pm to explain what happened so I went straight into Belfast and at that stage, the paramedics were working and they couldn't get the bleeding to stop.
"It was a traumatic experience first of all to get a phone call at that time of night to do with your mother. I knew she was in good hands from what I was told. The Europa kept in contact with me.
"The paramedics and police took her to the Royal Victoria Hospital where they managed to stop the bleeding and she stayed all night.
"It has been a traumatic experience for a woman of that age. My dad was with her and he is quite frail, so I think it would have been worse if they had knocked him over."
The UUP councillor added: "She is back home, she is sore but she is getting on. She is a very fit 85-year-old and has a very active life, I think that has helped. She is a wee bit shaken up.
"My parents have travelled the world to all sorts of places, and places where you think you could get mugged, but you get mugged in Belfast, your own home.
"As an elected representative, [I will say] just because you are in Belfast and there's lots of people about, you just don't know, you have to be careful. Don't put yourself at risk."
An earlier PSNI statement read: “It was reported around 10:25pm, that minutes earlier, a woman, aged in her eighties, had been walking down the street when an unknown male ran past her and attempted to pull her handbag out of her arms.
“The victim held on to her bag before the suspect forcefully pulled her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on a black metal bollard. She was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries which, thankfully, are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.
“The suspect ran off along Great Victoria Street, in the direction of the city centre.
“He is described as being approximately 5’ 10 in height and was wearing a dark navy jacket with a blue upper panel and hood, dark tracksuit bottoms and grey trainers.
“This was a terrifying experience for the victim, who sustained a serious head injury as a result.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have dashcam or other footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1813 of 12/5/22.”
Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
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