Mark Piff has been left on crutches after racist hammer attack
Three armed men forced entry to a flat in Main Street, Dungiven shortly before midnight on Thursday and attacked Mark Piff as he lay in bed.
Police have described it as an aggravated burglary.
“This was a vicious attack on a defenceless man in his own home,” Detective Inspector Peter McKenna said.
Mark Piff said he “fears for his life”.
“I was in my bed after I finished work at half past nine and then a bang on the door and three masked men came in and started hitting me with hammers and other stuff,” Mr Piff said.
He said one of the masked men shouted racial abuse at him.
Mr Piff, who is originally from England but now works in Dungiven, said he is now considering moving out of the area.
“I don’t want to go out anymore after the beating I have been given,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
Mr Piff believes he was attacked “solely because of the colour of his skin”.
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey condemned the attack and said he has been inundated with calls from angry residents over this incident.
“Mark has the full support of the people of Dungiven,” Mr McGlinchey said.
Detective Inspector McKenna said Mr Piff’s attackers are described as “white males in their mid-20s with local accents and all three had their faces covered with scarves”.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
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