Well-known soccer coach viciously assaulted by gang
By Mary Dennehy
A VICIOUS assault on a well-known soccer coach has prompted local gardaí to stress the importance of local information and witness reports when it comes to tackling the growing epidemic of young gangs.
Last weekend, an active member of Marks Celtic in Fettercairn was assaulted by a number of young people while walking through Sundale at around 10.30pm.
According to local reports, he had asked the group of youths to “move on” – a request which saw the coach being allegedly attacked by four of the teenagers, who put him in hospital with a number of serious injuries, including a swollen brain and fractured eye socket.
Confirming the incident, Superintendent Peter Duff said: “This assault is currently under investigation and we are going through CCTV. We have taken some statements, but as of yet we haven’t questioned anyone.”
Young people hanging around estates have always been part and parcel of communities nationwide.
However, a more dangerous element is starting to infiltrate these groups of young people, many of whom are intimidating residents and engaging in anti-social behaviour, public order offences and violence.
Supt Duff said: “We are aware that there are gangs of young people gathering in certain areas and that their actions, or in-actions, are intimidating residents.
“When we respond to a call and arrive to find a group of young people congregating on a green space or sitting on a public wall, we cannot arrest them for that – even if there are reports of anti-social behaviour, we need witnesses.
“To tackle this type of behaviour, which we know is impacting on the quality of life for some residents, we need people to come forward – we need information.
“The Gardaí rely on information from the community, it is very seldom that an officer responds to a call, arrives on the scene and sees the crime being done.
“We need witnesses to come forward and we’d encourage people to come forward and talk to us in confidence.”
He added: “I appreciate that residents can at times be afraid to speak out, but the Gardaí can’t tackle this issue without the community’s assistance.
“A whole community approach is needed to deal with this type of intimidation in estates.”
Supt Duff said that community police are working on the ground with residents and that most of the young people engaged in this mob activity are juveniles from the local area.
He said: “We are constantly cautioning juveniles and taking prosecutions, but to really make a difference, we need communities to work with us.”
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