A COUPLE who were attacked and left for dead while on holiday in north Co Louth have returned to the road one year on from their nightmare.

James Fordyce (62) and his wife Kathleen (57) suffered horrendous injuries after being set upon by two men claiming to be border police.

Elias Boswell (20) and Patrick Mongan (21) were charged with the attempted murder of the couple at a sitting of the Newry magistrates court in Co Down last June.

The Fordyces, from Lincolnshire in England, had only arrived off a ferry from Scotland when they were approached by two men and badly assaulted with a hatchet and a machete at about 4am on the morning of 11 June.

They had pulled up in their motorhome for a night's sleep close to the Ravensdale Hotel.

James Fordyce suffered a broken arm and ribs and was bleeding from slashed wrists. He lost four pints of blood.

Kathleen Fordyce suffered a fractured skull as the perpetrators made off with a wallet, bank cards, cash, rings and keys. They also hijacked the Fiat ES60 Besscar camper van and drove it across the border. It was later found in flames near Meigh in South Armagh.

One year on, and despite their horrendous experience, the couple have decided to take to the road again on another motorhome holiday, this time in Britain.

The couple's daughter, Lorna, who is looking after the family packaging business in Burgh le Marsh near Skegness, said her parents were trying to live life to the full after their harrowing ordeal.

She added that she did not think her mother would ever fully recover from the attack.

"Dad is good, but I don't think mum will ever get over it," said Fordyce.

"They are enjoying life though. They nearly were not here, so they want to make the most of things."

On the night of the attack, a few hours after the couple parked, they heard voices outside claiming to be border police and ordering them to move the van from the lay-by.

After being assaulted and robbed they were left for dead on the roadside. The couple went on to make a full recovery in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

A month after the ordeal, Kathleen Fordyce said: "I don't think it will ever leave me because we have to look at the physical scars we've been left with."

Three days later Boswell from Auburn Park in Bangor and Patrick Joseph Mongan from Ardcarn Park in Newry were arrested in connection with the incident.

The pair have denied attempted murder, hijacking, aggravated burglary and stealing cash and belongings while armed with a hatchet and a machete.