A GROUP OF masked men beat a man in his 70s with bats and tried to set him on fire during an attempted murder in Co Armagh last night.

At around 7.35pm yesterday, it was reported that six masked men armed with bats entered the living room of the man’s home on the Clay Road in Keady.

The intruders attacked the man with the bats and continued the assault as he lay on the floor.

One of the men ransacked the upstairs of the man’s home while the attack was ongoing.

They then poured accelerant over him and around his home before sparking a fire.

Police say the injured man managed to run past his attackers, out of the burning building, and make it outside but that he was attacked again with bats in the yard of the property.

It’s believed the suspects made their escape in a dark-coloured vehicle, possibly an estate car.

The badly injured man then managed to make his way to the roadside and raise the alarm with a passing member of the public

PSNI and the Fire and Rescue Service attended but the man’s home and vehicle were destroyed by fire.

A PSNI spokesperson described it as a “terrible ordeal” and added that he was “subjected to a savage beating and has now lost his home”.

He remains in hospital for treatment to a range of injuries.

The PSNI has launched an investigation and is increasing its anti-burglary patrolling, particularly in border areas.

“However, we do also need the public’s help to prevent these crimes and to identify the people responsible for this heinous crime,” added the spokesperson.

Anyone who has CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or any footage in the Keady area from yesterday evening is asked to make contact with police.

The public can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/