Doing my best to show no reaction whatsoever, I take it from her and cast my eye over it. It doesn’t say anything that isn’t already out in the public domain, and part of me wishes I’d stayed at home and asked Sue simply to email the statement over.

Sure, I wouldn’t have been here for any questions, but it’s not like I don’t have a degree of an inside track on all of this. I set my phone up to record then join Aidan and Nuala and all the others in a huddle in front of the police. DI Bradley, of course, will do the talking. He stands there, officious-looking in a black overcoat, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly coiffed.

‘If we could have your attention, please,’ Sue says, even though we are all already clearly focused on the people in front of us.

‘Thank you all for coming,’ DI Bradley says. ‘At around 20.00 hours last night, police from Strand Road received a report of a serious assault in the Creggan Estate. A man in his sixtes had been set upon by three unknown males at his home in Malin Gardens. There, he was subjected to a brutal and terrifying ordeal in which he was savagely beaten before his attackers poured a kettleful of boiling water over him.

‘The attack occurred in front of his wife, who the men restrained. The man was taken immediately to Altnagelvin Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.’

He pauses, for dramatic effect, I imagine.

‘The men are described as being in their thirties, and of average height and build. They were wearing dark knitted balaclavas, dark-coloured jackets and jeans. Two of the men had local accents. The other is said to have had a Belfast accent. They left soon after the attack, walking in the direction of Broadway.

‘Police are appealing for anyone with information about this attack or for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area to get in touch. We would say again that the nature of this attack was particularly depraved, and the police will do everything in their power to find those responsible and bring them to justice.’

DI Bradley nods to Sue, signalling that he is finished. He has barely taken a breath before Aidan asks his first question.

‘Are the police willing to confirm that the victim of this attack was Liam Doherty, the father of murdered schoolgirl, Kelly Doherty?’

‘At this stage, the victim of the assault has asked not to be identified,’ DI Bradley says.

‘But the dogs on the street know who it is,’ Aidan says. ‘There are videos on social media from outside the Doherty house.’

‘As I have said, the victim of the assault has requested that he is not identified at this stage,’ DI Bradley repeats.

There is a collective sigh of frustration.

‘Has Jamesy Harte been spoken to by the police regarding this matter?’ Nuala asks.