Irish Republican News · November 9, 2004

Vicious sectarian attack on kids

A brutal sectarian assault took place on two Catholic schoolboys in Derry on Thursday.

The 13-year-old boys were among a group of pupils getting off a bus at New Buildings on the outskirts of the city shortly after 4pm yesterday when they were attacked by a gang of up to 15 youths.

Two of the boys managed to escape but two others were trapped by the gang and beaten to the ground. One boy lost consciousness when he was repeatedly kicked as he lay on the ground.

Both boys were admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital but were later discharged.

Condemning the incident, Derry mayor Gearoid O hEara said: “It is obviously a very serious incident. I had hoped these kind of attacks in the city were becoming a thing of the past. We had our problems last year but it has been relatively quiet in Derry in recent months.”

And two Catholic players were assaulted during a football match in south Belfast on Sunday. The teenagers were attacked by supporters of a team from the hardline unionist Shankill Road.

The supporters of the team from the Shankill went onto the pitch after two players clashed in the course of the match and assualted the pair.

UVF ATTACK PORTUGUESE

The unionist paramilitary UVF has been blamed for a racist attack on a Portuguese family in Portadown, County Armagh, on Saturday night.

At least one petrol bomb was thrown at the family’s home, causing scorch damage to the front window and wall of the house. No one was injured.

This is the latest in a series of such racist incidents, predominately in unionist areas.

Portuguese families have been targeted several times.

Local Sinn Féin Assembly member Mr John O’Dowd said the attacks were part of a UVF campaign to force immigrant families to pay protection money to be allowed work in the area.

“The Portuguese community in Portadown are facing physical attacks on a weekly basis,” said Mr O’Dowd. He said unionist politicians must use their influence to try to stop the attacks.

Meanwhile, members of the Filipino community were targeted today in the latest racist attacks in north Belfast. Graffiti was daubed on homes and cars in Skegoneill and Fortwilliam Parade.

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