A pensioner who was left in a critical condition following a serious assault in Antrim has died.
Tony Miskimmon (74) was attacked outside a primary school in the Station Road area on Saturday. He passed away peacefully in hospital on Wednesday night.
A court had heard earlier this week that Mr Miskimmon had just a “one per cent chance of survival”.
It came as a 21-year-old man was charged and appeared before Coleraine Magistrates on Monday in connection with the attack.
In a statement on Thursday, police confirmed that the pensioner had passed away. A spokesperson said “all charges, including any additional charges, will be reviewed by the PPS in due course”.
Speaking earlier this week before her father’s death, Mr Miskimmon’s daughter Lani described how he was a “big giant of a man”.
She also spoke of her shock when she received the phone call to tell of her of the attack.
“[The doctor] said he is seriously ill and he said to me on the phone there is a 1% survival rate‚” she told the BBC NI’s Nolan Show.
“He said to me [my father] has got severe head injuries, bleed on the brain, fractured skull, fractured facial bones.
“I just said: ‘Is my dad going to make it?’
“[The doctor] said if he does come out of this he is not going to have any quality of life. But if there is any quality of life it is going to be 1%.
“I had to break the news to my sister that my dad was basically not going to make it.”
Lani, who lives in Australia, said she had last spoke to him on Saturday ahead of going to The Dockers Club and they discussed plans for him to visit her and his grandchildren.
“He loved his girls,” Lani said about her father adding: “I never went a day without knowing how much I was loved”.
Lani added: “Everyone knew big Tony and I felt safe. I have never, ever not felt safe.
“For someone to turn around to me and say he is not going to make it, never in a million years would I have thought I would have that call. I really thought it was a joke.”
PSNI Detective Inspector Sean Armstrong said: “I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Tony at this very sad time.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding Tony’s death and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Station Road, Antrim on Saturday 2nd November between 7pm and 8pm and may have witnessed this incident, or has any other information that would assist with our enquiries to please get in touch.
“I also urge anyone who may have dash cam or mobile phone footage to share this with us.”
DUP MLA Pam Cameron said her thoughts are with Mr Miskimmon’s family.
“I am profoundly saddened by the death Anthony “Tony” Miskimmon who was attacked in Antrim on November 2nd,” she said.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends during this tragic time.
“This senseless violence has no place in our community.
“I encourage anyone with information regarding this abhorrent incident to make that information available to PSNI.”
