Attack on 12-year-old girl branded a ‘disgusting and sickening’ hate crime

The young girl is is reported to have been attacked by a number of other girls at around 5.20pm on Monday, April 3.

Police at Strand Road said the incident is being investigated as a sectarian hate crime, and officers are appealing to anyone who has information about this attack, or who witnessed it, to get in touch.

Ulster Unionist Party Alderman Darren Guy said he was appalled upon learning of the incident.

"I was disgusted to learn of this sectarian attack on a young 12 year old Protestant girl whilst she was enjoying her first day of her Easter holidays along with her friends.

"To be chased through a shopping centre and then set upon in the way she was. A truly sickening attack, which saw both boys and girls continuously kick at her head and upper body, has left [the young victim] traumatised by the shocking experience,” he stated.

Ald. Guy said the young girl’s trauma was further compounded by the wide circulation of a video of the attack via social media channels.

"I would hope that after watching this video, that if parents notice any of their kids taking part in this attack, they would do the right thing and inform the PSNI,” he stated.

The Waterside councillor said it was dismaying that such an attack could happen just five days prior to the ‘moveable feast’ anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

"This week marks 25 years of the Belfast Agreement; Sectarianism is still rife throughout Northern Ireland. We have never dealt with the issue of sectarian hatred in our society. This needs to change."

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DUP Alderman Waterside Niree McMorris, who has spoken to the young girl and her family told the ‘Journal’ she had endured a terrible ordeal.

“We need to condemn any attacks but especially in this case. This is a 12-year-old girl, a child, who was set upon as if by a pack of animals. It is unheard of in our society.

"That wee girl will probably carry that trauma for years to come. It will have an impact on her life and her education.

"The impact it could have on her could be life long because of one mindless incident, that other children thought was funny,” said the DUP councillor.

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The sharing of a video of the incident has served only to exacerbate the impact, said the Waterside DUP representative.

"The psychological trauma has been made worse by the fact that they put this out on social media.

"Not only did they attack her and she had to suffer that mental and physical attack, then she has to deal with the peer pressure of that being shared within her peer group,” said Ald. McMorris.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton said the young victim and her family were at the forefront of his thoughts.

“This is a deeply disturbing attack on a young girl, simply because of her religion. There can be no place for sectarianism in our society,” he stated.

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin also condemned the incident.

"It's deeply upsetting to hear reports that a 12-year-old girl was the victim of a violent sectarian attack in the city centre. We send the girl and her family our solidarity.

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"It's deeply troubling that other young children would do this. But children are not responsible for sectarianism that everyday engulfs our lives, and theirs,” he stated, blaming persistent sectarian divisions in the North at a societal level.

Sinn Féin Waterside Councillor Christopher Jackson said: "This must have been a very frightening experience for this young girl.

“There is no place for sectarianism in our society.

“The people of this city want and are entitled to an inclusive, better future for them and their children and reject this sectarian behaviour outright.

“I am appealing to anyone with information about this attack to bring it to the PSNI.”

Alliance Councillor Philip McKinney stated: “This sectarian attack is absolutely appalling and should be condemned by all right thinking citizens.

"As we moved towards the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, have we not learnt to teach our children to respect others?

"If you can help the investigation please contact the PSNI.”

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Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Colr. Sandra Duffy, said the incident was shocking and appealed to anyone with information or who witnessed the attack to contact the PSNI.

Mayor Duffy said: “As a mother of two daughters I was shocked and upset that a 12 year old girl would have to endure this type of hate in our city centre.

"I want to offer my support to the young girl and her family and reassure them that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Our city centre should be a safe space for every young person to visit and socialise and I would appeal to anyone who has information relating to this attack to report it to the PSNI.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement it is imperative that we continue to create a safe and shared environment for all our communities.”

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Investigating officer Sergeant McCollam said: "Hate crime can have a long lasting, damaging impact on victims and their wider community.

"We believe that every person has the right to go about their lives without being the target of abusive language, or criminal behaviour motivated by hate or prejudice.

"We all have a role in eliminating this behaviour from our society. There is no place for hate and we take reports of this nature incredibly seriously."

The number to call with information is 101, quoting reference number 937 of 05/04/23. A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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