One of the blind brothers attacked and beaten by thugs in their home last month has expressed thanks to dozens of folk who offered their support and generosity following the ordeal.

Since the brutal attack, Stephen (42) and George (38) Sloan from Whiteabbey have been inundated with messages of support from people as far away as Canada, who were all horrified to learn of the assault.

The Co Antrim brothers — who both have Retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye condition resulting in blindness — were battered by two men who had forced their way into their Glenville Parade home and demanded money on Sunday, October 26.

The intruders beat the pair with sticks before making off with just £20 from Stephen and £14 from George.

Stephen sustained several cuts and bruises to his face and body while George sustained a broken arm in the attack. Stephen’s guide dog Otis sustained a knock to the head but has since recovered.

Both men had been unable to leave the house on their own for fear of being attacked.

However, thanks to the kind and generous actions of dozens of people across the province, their faith in humanity has been restored.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night Stephen said the pair were extremely grateful to all the people who had offered their support over the past week. He said both were overwhelmed by the generosity of their local community and at first did not want to accept money. However the kind gestures kept flowing in.

The pair have even received donations from people outside the Co Antrim estate including one Belfast Telegraph reader from Moira, who wished to remain anonymous.

The woman said she was so distressed by what happened to the pair that she wanted to put a smile back on their face. Stephen said he was grateful to everyone for their donations.

“I just want to thank all the people who gave us donations,” he said. “I don’t just want to say thank you to one person but to all of them. I don’t know what we are going to do with all the money. Maybe put it towards a nice holiday or Christmas.”

Stephen’s sister Vera Campbell, who is collecting the money on behalf of the pair, explained she too was overwhelmed by people’s generosity.

She said people from as far as Canada had written to the them expressing their horror over the attack and wising them a full and speedy recovery.

“We even had people come to the door who don’t even know us to say how shocked they were and offering to help out,” she said.