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Catholic teenager kicked in head in 'vicious' sectarian attack

A CATHOLIC teenager was kicked in the head and face and had his shirt ripped off in what police have described as a “vicious, sectarian” attack.

The 15-year-old was walking home with friends through Derry’s Waterside when he was stopped by up to 30 youths at Rossdowney Road shortly after 10pm on Saturday night.

The attack follows an assault on three men in the same area the previous weekend in which police believe loyalist paramilitaries were involved.

PSNI spokesman, Inspector William Calderwood said one of the group called three other youths over who then attacked the victim.

Mr Calderwood said: “One of the males in the group - described as being at least 5 ft 6 ins tall with brown hair and a blonde fringe, aged 16 or 17 and wearing glasses – stopped and spoke to the boy. It was reported this male then called over three other youths who were with him and the 15-year-old boy was assaulted.

“The victim sustained a number of kicks to his head, face and back and a punch to his face. His shirt was also ripped off him.”

The attack spilled onto the middle of the road and only ended when a passing motorist intervened after the victim managed to get to his feet and run.

“The victim subsequently attended hospital where he was treated for his injuries which included bruising to his back and face, grazes to his arms and legs and a chipped tooth.

“This was a vicious attack which is being treated as a sectarian assault at this time,” Mr Calderwood said.

SDLP councillor Martin Reilly said the attack could have been much worse but for the intervention of the passing motorist.

“There is no place for this brutality in society and it is not indicative of the shared future to which we aspire.

“People across the Waterside will be keen to offer this young person their full support and all of us in positions of responsibility in society need to work together to stamp out sectarianism,” Mr Reilly said.

Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said Saturday’s incident was in the latest in a number of attacks on Catholics in Derry’s Waterside.

He said: “There have been families forced to leave their homes and property has been damaged. There is a concern that tensions are being deliberately raised.”