Republican News · Thursday 13 March 1997

British soldier assaults boy

By Stephen Delaney.

A member of a British Army foot patrol attacked a seven year old boy as he played with his friends on a football pitch at Lenadoon Avenue in West Belfast on Sunday evening 9 March.

The boy, a pupil at the nearby St Oliver Plunkett primary school, was hysterical after the attack in which he received severe bruising to his leg when he was grabbed and kicked by the soldier, thought to be member of the Royal Anglican Regiment.

The boy's father, who does not want to named until he seeks legal advice, said, ``I wasn't in the house when my son was attacked, if I had have been, God knows what would have happened. I wouldn't let any man assault any seven year old child in this way. It's infuriating to think these people can walk through the estate, beat up children and then leave''.

A neighbour said, ``it's desperate children can't play in their own streets for fear of the British army. The young lad and all the children were really distressed after the assault. The boy was crying for over half an hour. The wee lad's only seven years old. This armed man physically assaulted him as five of his armed cronies watched on. It shows what sick, cowardly people they are''.

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