BOY OF 15 CRIED FOR HIS MUM AS GANG BEAT HIM WITH IRON BARS
A VULNERABLE 15-year-old boy cried out for his mother as he was savagely beaten with iron bars by a gang of hooded assailants.
The victim sustained a number of broken bones in the paramilitary-style attack, which took place in the Gartan Square area of the Bogside in Londonderry at the weekend.
Last night, police released an image of the boy lying in a hospital bed, his two legs heavily bandaged, as they made a fresh appeal for information.
Officers also published a chilling photograph of the weapons used to batter the teenager last Saturday.
Chief Inspector Ivor Morton said: “The attack, carried out by a number of masked assailants armed with iron bars, was a terrifying ordeal for the vulnerable 15-year-old boy who was heard to have cried out for his mammy whilst the attack was taking place.
“The young victim sustained a number of broken bones as a result of the assault.
“He is now recovering from his physical injuries, and I hope that he will also recover from the psychological impact of this incident.”
“There can be no place in our society for this type of barbarity. All right-minded people must turn their backs on those responsible for such incidents and do the right thing by giving police any information they have about their activities.
“Anyone who has information that could help with our investigation should contact detectives
To beat a 15-year-old child is both abhorrent and unacceptable
at Strand Road, using the non-emergency number 101 and quoting reference number 28 of 10/6/17.”
Dissident republican paramilitaries are understood to be behind Saturday’s attack on the boy, who is among the youngest victims of such a beating in recent times.
The Deputy Mayor of Derry and Strabane council, SDLP councillor John Boyle, condemned the incident as an “awful act of brutality.
“That a gang of masked men took iron bars and beat a 15-yearold child is something that people in this city will find both abhorrent and unacceptable,” Mr Boyle said.
“This was an awful act of brutality on a vulnerable young person, and I would appeal to those who are carrying out these attacks to desist immediately.”