A mother has appealed for help in finding those responsible for an attack which left her 16-year-old son in danger of losing the sight in one eye.
Kay Tuite told The Irish News of her "disgust" at the assault outside a concert in Belfast a week ago.
Her youngest child Jason, from Dundalk, was among thousands of young people who attended the Vital gig featuring Dutch DJ Tiesto and British group Clean Bandit at Boucher Road playing fields on Saturday August 26th.
He travelled with a group of friends and his girlfriend, but suffered a catalogue of injuries - including a shattered cheekbone, dislocated nose and damage to his groin - when he was kicked and punched to the ground by a group of men.
Doctors believe one of the broken bones in his cheekbone may be pressing on a optic nerve.
Once the swelling has eased, they will be able to determine if there is a tear at the back of his right eye or if the damage has caused permanent loss of vision.
His mother said he left the concert at around midnight and he and his girlfriend were looking for their bus home when the attack happened.
"There were about 40 buses. He (Jason) said there was a fella on the steps of a bus and he was shouting abuse at Jason's girlfriend."
Following a verbal exchange between Jason and the man - described as being in late teens, with short dark hair and wearing denim shorts and no top - Mrs Tuite said the attacker told him "I'm going to kick the face off you" before jumping at him.
She said four other men, who were on the bus, also got off and joined in the attack.
"He stayed on his feet for a while.
"Eventually, they got him on the ground. They were kicking him to the head and groin.
"One of Jason's friends saw what was going on and he ran up and pulled them away."
The mother-of-six said her son arrived home at around 1.30am and she immediately phoned an ambulance which took him to Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
"His eye was totally shut and it was out like a balloon."
The teenager, who has just finished school, has had to put his future on hold while he waits to find out the extent of the injury.
Mrs Tuite said she didn't think the news had sunk in with Jason yet, although he has said he is never going to another concert.
She appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
"I think it is disgraceful that was allowed to happen," she said.
"Where was all the security? There must have been somebody who saw it. There were thousands of people there, somebody must have seen something.
"I'm sure the bones in his cheek can be mended. He is only 16, even jobs or anything, with the sight gone, how will he get on in life? He is only a child."
Anyone with information can contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
