Northern Ireland

Five-year-old children threw stones at cars

Children aged just five threw stones at cars in north Belfast
Children aged just five threw stones at cars in north Belfast Children aged just five threw stones at cars in north Belfast

CHILDREN who threw stones at passing cars in north Belfast were just five years old, police said.

Officers were called to Limestone Road after motorists reported a crowd of children throwing stones at traffic.

The PSNI North Belfast Facebook account later posted that the children involved in the anti-social behaviour - on what was for many the first day back at school - were just five years old, the age of a Primary One pupil.

"It has been left in the hands of their parents who are less than impressed with them!" the post read. "This is so dangerous. Do you know where your kids are?"

Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee said he was "shocked" to learn that such young children were involved.

"The children obviously don't understand the danger towards motorists, pedestrians and themselves," he said. "I'd ask all people in the community to rally round and speak to the children about the danger. I think that together we can stop this. Hopefully it's just a once-off event."