ATTACK SPOILS PARTY
Bus yobs ruin Halloween for vulnerable adults
A Halloween party for vulnerable adults with learning difficulties turned into a horror show after a large gang of teenage thugs attacked their buses.
In an incident labelled “heartbreaking” by a disability charity, the mindless yobs shouted vile abuse and hurled eggs at the Rutherglen group who were boarding buses to take them home from the party at Cathkin Primary.
The appalling attack has left volunteers at the club – for individuals with additional support needs who meet weekly – worried that some of the group may be to frightened to return.
Maureen Clayton told the Reformer: “Everyone is really upset and badly shaken.
“Some of the people at the club can’t move or are in wheelchairs and they were visibly frightened when this was happening.”
Vulnerable adults with learning difficulties saw their Halloween party turn into a real horror show after a group of around 20 teenage yobs attacked their buses.
The cruel thugs pelted the vehicles with eggs while shouting abuse at the adults, some of whom are wheelchair users.
The “heartbreaking” incident at Cathkin Primary left the 30-strong group “visibly shaken and upset”, according to a volunteer.
Every Wednesday the additional support needs club meets at the school, and last week the group thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Halloween.
However, trouble began as the club members left the building at the end of the party to board their transport home.
Volunteer Maureen Clayton told the Reformer: “It had been a great night and everyone had a lot of fun.
“When we were leaving there was a group of teenagers hanging around and they started shouting at us and being abusive.
“We told them to go away and they seemed to go off.
“But when we got on the buses and started moving they were waiting as it left and started attacking it.
“I think it was just eggs they were throwing at it, but the sound of them smashing on the windows and what was being shouted was terrible and it left everyone really upset.
“Some of the people at the club can’t move freely or are wheelchairs users and they were obviously frightened when all of this was happening.”
Now, Maureen fears the incident will have a lasting negative effect on the club’s shaken members.
She went on: “I’m worried some of them will not want to come back as it ruined the whole night for them.
“We had to stop the buses because with the rain and all the eggs the drivers were concerned.
“They only stopped when I took my phone out and started trying to get pictures of them.
“When they saw the flash they started running away down Fernhill Road.
“It was totally pointless. All they did was ruin the night for our members.”
A spokesperson for the ENABLE Scotland charity said: “We are saddened by this hurtful experience.
“People who have learning disabilities often live very isolated lives, excluded from social opportunities many of us take for granted.
“To be targeted after a fun night with your friends is heartbreaking.
“This is why ENABLE Scotland continues to campaign with our members for communities to #BetheChange and challenge bullying behaviour and hate crime.
“We are asking local communities to take real action: for schools to use our lesson plans developed in collaboration with the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, to teach young people about learning disability; and for community groups to host #BetheChange workshops with our community activists who have learning disabilities.”
Inspector Bob Bryce, of Rutherglen police, added: “There is no tolerance for this, it is a disgusting crime.
“Throwing anything at buses is also extremely dangerous, because it can distract the driver, leading to an accident or serious injury.
“Anyone who knows anything about the incident, or the boys involved, should contact Cambuslang CID via 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.”
What was being shouted was terrible and it left everyone really, really upset