The mother of a man in his 20s who suffered a serious attack by a “large group” at a GAA club has said he remains “still very much in shock”.
Police have now confirmed they are investigating after Sam Laschevoski, a 20-year-old martial artist, was taken to hospital with head injuries following the attack at St Canice’s Dungiven GAA club on Sunday evening.
Earlier this week, Sam’s jiu-jitsu coach Andy Chapman had issued an appeal for the attackers to come forward and take on a bout with a member of his martial arts club for a prize worth £7,000 – in an attempt to teach the mob assailants about “respect”.
Sam’s mother, Majella McLaughlin, also trains at the same ‘Team Ryano’ gym that Sam attends in Limavady and has even won a European championship in the sport.
Speaking to the Irish News, she praised the support she and her son have received from the martial arts community, as she urged anyone with information to come forward.
“Sam is still very much in shock about what’s happened – he just doesn’t understand why,” she said.
“And after it happened, all he kept saying was, ‘what did I do?’ You know, ‘what did I do to deserve this?’ I know for a fact that he didn’t do anything because it’s not in his character to be confrontational. It’s not in his character to go out and start rows or anything. Sam’s one of the least confrontational people you could ever possibly meet. He’s quite quiet and shy, but he’s also got such a big heart.”
She said Sam’s older brother is also “absolutely heartbroken that this has happened”.
“He’s taking it really badly, and everybody that knows Sam is taking it badly,” Majella said.
“It shouldn’t happen to anybody but, of all people for it to happen to, why Sam? I would never, never want this to happen. I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that somebody stood there and thought to themselves ‘I’m going to do this to this boy’.”
In a widely shared online appeal this week, Sam’s coach Andy Chapman urged the attackers to come forward for a chance to learn “better respect”.
Limavady gym owner Andy Chapman. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN 8-4-2026 (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN COPYRIGHT / )
“Fighting in groups is cowardly,” Andy had said. ”Jumping on a man is cowardly. Can you fight by yourself? Show me. Hopefully this post reaches one or two of these young men. Here’s my plea to you – contact me.
“Come to my club and show me that you can fight. I’ll line up a group of young men the same size and age as you, you can have your pick at one, we’ll stick gloves on the both of you and you can have a fight.”
Thanks to support from local businesses, Andy confirmed to the Irish News that a prize of £7,000 is now on offer if one of the perpetrators does come forward and wins the proposed bout under controlled conditions at Sam’s gym.
Mum Majella praised the support from the local martial arts community.
“It’s such a wide community because it’s not just our club,” she said. “They have been so supportive. There have been so many messages of support, people sharing Andy’s post, and just generally supporting us.
“People have been messaging me, asking how Sam is, and you know, it’s just shocked everyone within the community as well.”
She added: “As a mother, I would urge people to come forward. Obviously, we would like to get this sorted in the best way possible. You know, we are trying to do the right thing.
“We’re trying to go down the legal road and hoping and trusting that the police will be able to to get the relevant information to make sure that Sam gets the justice he deserves. He doesn’t deserve to be treated the way he was.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are appealing for witnesses and information following an assault in Dungiven on Sunday evening, 5th April.”
Sergeant Broadley said: “We received a report at around 4pm on Monday, 6th April of a man who was attacked by a large group on Sunday in the Garvagh Road area.
“Officers spoke with the injured party, who attended hospital for treatment to his injuries.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam, CCTV or other video footage, to contact us on the 101 number, quoting reference 187 of 06/04/26.”