Shocking moment: Loyalist thug Davy O’Neill beats blind Catholic grandfather Stephen Norris for mistaken identity in Belfast

O’Neill, 41, is the older brother of tragic twins Stephen and Claire O’Neill, who died of a drug overdose in Belfast earlier this year.

And we can reveal that the suntanned thug boy furiously beat up an innocent man in the mistaken belief that he had supplied the drugs that killed his 37-year-old siblings.

The brutal attack happened ten weeks ago at the family home of 62-year-old Stephen Norris on Ormeau Road in Belfast. Blind and disabled, Mr. Norris is a father to three daughters and a grandfather to seven young children.

Mr Norris, a long-term disabled person who requires constant care, was home alone at 11.40am on June 16 when six-foot-tall loyalist hardman Davy O’Neill arrived outside his Rossmore Court building.

Unaware that his every move was being recorded by a special security system, O’Neill – who was wearing a light-colored T-shirt and dark shorts – rang the bell several times.

Mr. Norris innocently went to the front door and opened it.

And in what appears to be the worst case of mix-up to appear in the Northern Ireland courts for some time, O’Neill immediately challenged his blind victim by saying, “Paul, what about you, do you know who I am?”

Then he launched a brutal attack on the frail grandfather.

O’Neill kicked Mr. Norris, who suffers from chronic diabetes and other related diseases. The blow threw him backwards onto an internal staircase.

O’Neill accused his terrified victim of being the drug dealer who supplied his brother with narcotics and then entered the house. He continued to punch and kick his shocked victim, who maintained his innocence the entire time.

Due to the relentless intensity of the attack, Mr. Norris lost his balance and collapsed to the floor, but the intense attack continued.

While repeatedly lashing out at Mr Norris, O’Neill accused him of supplying the drugs that claimed the lives of his younger brother and sister.

Fearing for his life – and still in a shocked and confused state – Mr Norris finally yelled at his attacker: “You’ve got the wrong house.”

But O’Neill continued to punch and kick his victim. And he yelled at Mr Norris: “I don’t have the wrong house.”

Suddenly, as if realizing he’d made a terrible mistake, O’Neill turned on his heel and walked calmly back to his gray jeep.

As he entered the vehicle, the thug exchanged a word with a female companion who had watched the 30-second attack from the passenger seat.

And as the car sped out of the quiet south Belfast housing estate, the woman was seen covering her mouth with her hands.

Despite the pain, the dazed Stephen Norris somehow managed to get to his feet. And he used his cell phone to contact his wife Josie, who was taking care of their grandchildren in Jordanstown.

She immediately called the PSNI, whose officers rushed to her husband’s aid. And later she passed the CCTV evidence retrieved by her security system to the police.

Days later, David Brian O’Neill of Best’s Hill View, Belfast, accompanied his lawyer, made himself available for an interview at a police station.

When questioned by police, O’Neill flatly denied that he was filmed pressing the doorbell at the Norris home or attacking the resident. He gave a “no comment” interview throughout.

O’Neill was released on police bail but was later ordered back for a second interview where he was presented with better quality footage of the incident.

Ms Norris also produced photos to police showing severe bruising on her husband’s arms, face and body from the front door attack.

In a blatant attempt to disguise his looks, O’Neill even went to the trouble of dying his thinning light brown hair black.

And despite another lengthy interview with no comment, he was charged with wrongful assault against Stephen Norris.

Last Thursday, David O’Neill appeared in the dock at Belfast Magistrates Court in Laganside in his trademark t-shirt and shorts.

And when he was presented with the assault charge, O’Neill replied, “guilty.”

The court was told that O’Neill was receiving state benefits and that he would be remanded in custody on bail. The case was adjourned due to reports before the verdict.

But seven weeks after the attack, Mr Norris suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital, where he remains to this day. Doctors are still struggling to stem internal bleeding.

Tragic twins Stephen and Claire O’Neill, 35, died side by side in February in Annadale, south Belfast, after overdosing on a form of the demon drug crystal meth.

That was then sunday world reported that the drug had been supplied by members of the UDA based in South Belfast.

Yesterday, a PSNI spokesman said officials were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sudden deaths, which are not being treated as suspicious.

David O’Neill is well connected in loyalist circles in south Belfast.

O’Neill was previously associated with the Ballynafeigh Apprentice Boys Flute Band.

And as a 22-year-old living in the fiercely loyalist Annadale Flats area, O’Neill earned the dubious distinction of being the first adult in Northern Ireland to be given an Anti-Social Behavior Order (ASBO).

He appeared in Belfast Magistrates Court and was accused of playing loud music.

The case was taken over by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who alleged that O’Neill acted in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in others.

While he reluctantly accepted the ASBO and agreed to abide by it, O’Neill said he felt bullied.

He said: “I’m the victim of all this. I just did what every other young guy does. It was just portrayed as much worse than it was.

“I don’t feel like I have to apologize for anything — I wasn’t such a bad neighbor.”