A man was bundled into a van near Ballymena Rugby Club, taken to a layby and sexually assaulted. It seems the man was held down by one man while 2 other men raped him. The sexual assault lasted 10 minutes and left the man needing hospital treatment. Police are appealing for information.

This is obviously a shocking and disgusting act and I can only imagine the terror the victim went through not to mention the pain, both physical and emotional, that he must still be enduring.

There is one man raped, on average, roughly every 2 weeks in Northern Ireland alone.

Follow up:

Perhaps it's natural, but I think hearing about it happening to a man just made it hit home more what a serious crime rape is. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware it's a very serious crime, but somehow it's easier to understand and to put yourself in the position of the victim in cases where it happens to someone 'like you'.

It's unfortunate that it would take that to bring it home, but it's important to remember that it's just as bad for a woman, and women are raped on a much more regular basis.

So if you're a man and, like me, this really hits home and leaves you with a rather disturbing feeling - remember that feeling whenever you hear of any other rape attack, regardless of the gender of the victim. I'd imagine it probably is harder, at least for some men, to empathise with female victims - but yes, regardless of how often you hear reports of rape, it is that serious.