Lucky to be alive: teen (14) attacked with a hammer and knuckleduster
mother of a teenage boy who suffered head injuries when he was attacked with a knuckleduster and a hammer on a north Belfast street says he could have been killed.
Patrick Burns was walking home from his grandmother’s house with a friend on Deerpark Road at around 8pm on Friday when he was pushed into a hedge and attacked by four youths.
He curled up to protect himself, but sustained two gashes on the left side of his head from the hammer and two wounds to the right side from knuckleduster blows.
The attackers stopped kicking him for a few seconds which gave him the chance to escape with the help of a passing motorist who had been flagged down by his friend.
Patrick’s mother Donna McBride said: “He was just in complete shock, he couldn’t even cry.
“That hammer could have left him brain damaged or even killed him.” She added: “These kids don’t understand what they’re doing. They’re going to wreck somebody’s life.”
Patrick was taken to hospital where he underwent an MRI scan on his head and a CT scan on hand injuries.
The violence came during four days of organised fights which began on Thursday and plagued the Ardoyne area over the weekend.
The hostilities have reignited after smaller incidents took place in the summer holidays.
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said up to 80 youths aged beTHE tween 12 and 17 had arranged the fights through social media around the Crumlin Road and Alliance Avenue areas.
The Oldpark councillor, who was on the street on Friday night, said: “It certainly was a very vicious attack on Patrick who was walking home and got caught up in the arranged fights.”
“We had four nights of arranged fights in north Belfast and the concerning thing was that there are now weapons being used,” he continued. “This was a frightening experience for him (Patrick) and I hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
Extra police were deployed to the area on Saturday night in a bid to prevent further trouble between the youths, and a knife was seized from one.
Mr McCusker added: “I cannot emphasise enough to all young people the dangers and consequences in this behaviour and would urge you to stop.”
The PSNI said: “A 14-year-old male was taken to hospital for treatment after he was assaulted in north Belfast. It’s understood he was set upon by four youths at the junction of Alliance Avenue and Deerpark Road shortly after 8pm. A number of reports about youths gathering in the area were also received at around the same time and local police, who were on patrol nearby, attended within minutes.”