A young girl was hospitalised following a serious assault in Newry on Saturday night.
The 15-year-old girl was walking to her home in The Meadow area of the city with friends when she was attacked by a group of youths, close to the leisure centre.
A police spokesperson said the teenager was assaulted shortly after 10pm as she walked in an alleyway in the area of Clanrye Park.
The spokesperson said: “The girl sustained cuts and bruising and was taken to hospital following the incident for treatment.”
Independent Councillor Gavin Malone visited the family on Monday.
He explained: “Their 15-year-old daughter was walking home with her friends and took the path at the side of the Post Office Sorting Office leading to the Newry Leisure Centre and The Meadow when she was approached by a group of individuals in their late teens and very badly beaten.
“The young girl had to go to Daisy Hill Hospital for treatment and her injuries were very brutal.
“The parents are very angry and disturbed by this nonsensical attack on innocent girls and call on all parents to be aware of their children’s locations and take responsibility for their children’s behaviour.
“These unprovoked attacks are not acceptable in our society and I call on all those who may have information on this incident to pass this information to the relevant authorities.”
Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information about this incident or who may be able to help with the investigation, is asked to call officers at Ardmore station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1934 06/08/22.
A report can be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
