Northern Ireland

Injured teenager's life saved by Good Samaritan following sectarian attack

Nationalist youths clash with police in the New Lodge Road area of North Queen Street.
Nationalist youths clash with police in the New Lodge Road area of North Queen Street. Nationalist youths clash with police in the New Lodge Road area of North Queen Street.

THERE have been appeals for calm after another night of trouble in north Belfast, during which a teen was attacked with an iron bar in a sectarian assault.

The 17-year-old from the Ballysillan area, who suffered a suspected broken jaw, was rescued by a woman from the New Lodge who chased the attackers before taking the injured youth to her house for safety.

The victim's phone was stolen in the attack involving three men at North Queen Street at around 1.45am on Monday.

A former pupil of Boys Model, he had been returning from visiting friends in the Tiger's Bay area when he was attacked.

His aunt Alex Mercer said he was lucky not to have been killed in the sectarian assault which she said has "shattered" her family.

"My nephew is the most quiet person in our family - he wouldn't say boo to anyone. We can't believe this has happened to him," she said.

"He has bruises on every part of his body, you can see the metal bar marks on his back. He's been to hospital for an X-ray and they think he may have a broken jaw and he's also got loose teeth.

"Had it not been for the woman who took him into her house, he could have been killed. What was to stop them continuing to beat him with iron bars until he was dead?".

The good Samaritan contacted the injured teenager's mother and police were dispatched to her house to take the victim home.

"She was woken from her sleep to say her son had been attacked. I don't think she realised the seriousness until she seen him and the state he was in, then she just broke down," Ms Mercer said.

The teenager was taken to hospital on Monday for treatment to injures to his face, head and body.

"This can't go on or someone will be killed, right now we're just thankful that my nephew isn't dead," Ms Mercer added.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Sam McCallum said one of the men responsible is described as wearing a green/brown jacket, grey tracksuit bottoms and grey shoes.

“Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 221 13/07/20," he added.

There were also reports that a 13-year-old from Tigers Bay required stitches to a head wound after being injured close to the Cityside retail park, that sits close to the north Belfast interface.

Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee, condemned the attack and appealed for anyone with information to give it to the PSNI.

"I'd also ask parents to check where their children are going in the evening and to ask them to stay away from any of the trouble spots from over last few nights."

Sectarian trouble has raged in the area since Friday night.

A bonfire that was previously placed further into Tigers Bay was moved this year closer to the troubled interface.

The bonfire at the Duncairn Gardens peaceline was placed close to buildings, including a community pharmacy.

Firefighters doused the pharmacy with water jets on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday morning to prevent damage.

It is understood that the statutory authorities were considering ordering the removal of the bonfire to protect buildings and ease interface tensions, however a peace gate was welded shut hampering access to the site from the main road.

Youths in the New Lodge area have clashed with police. Stones and petrol bombs have been thrown for three nights in a row.

Community worker Turlach Mac Dhónaill, who has been working with young people in the New Lodge area, said the refusal by the PSNI to deal with the bonfire had raised tensions.

"Tensions were exacerbated by the fact that last August, a huge policing operation against the New Lodge bonfire builders resulted in charges and court appearances against young people which continue," he added.