24/04/2007

Teenager pushed off pier in 'happy slapping' incident

A 15-year-old boy was pushed off a pier during a “happy slapping” incident in Bangor, it has emerged.

The teenager had been playing with a ball near Bangor marina when he was attacked from behind and shoved off the pier by a group of drunken youths whilst the attack was recorded on mobile phones.

His mother said: “Next time it could be death”.

An assembly member said the police and council were currently working together to tackle under-age drinking. Bangor marina is a designated drink-free area.

The teenager told the BBC: “Me and my friend were just playing with the ball on the pier and the ball went in the water.

"I was just looking over the pier and I didn't realise there was anyone behind me and I just got suddenly pushed in from behind.

"It was low tide and there was a big drop. Whenever I was coming back up, they had their cameras out and they were videoing it.

"Then the police came down. They didn't take the drink off them. They told them to go away but the drunk ones came back again and kept on drinking."

The father of the boy said he phoned the police, but did not make an official complaint as he felt it would have been “pointless”.

He said: "The evidence, as it shows at the moment, is that the police are patrolling these areas.

"We have seen the police on patrol in these areas, but it doesn't seem to be deterring people from using these public areas as a drinking ground.

"The signs don't mean anything, the fines don't mean anything."

(JM/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

25 November 2024
SDLP Seeks Views On Proposed Regional Jobs, Skills and Investment Bill
The SDLP has announced the launch of a public consultation of their proposed Regional Jobs, Skills and Investment Bill, describing it as an opportunity to rebalance the economy across the North. The consultation opened online today and will close on Sunday 16th February.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
25 August 2010
Ballyholme Body 'Not Suspicious'
A crime is not suspected as police probe the shock discovery of a body on a Co Down beach. The body - believed to be that of a woman in her mid to late 30s - was found on Ballyholme Beach.
15 May 2015
Man's Body Recovered From Bangor Marina
Police have launched an investigation after the body of a man was recovered from Bangor Marina on Wednesday, 13 May. Police received a report that a man had entered the water shortly after 10.15am. Emergency services and police attended the scene and the body was recovered from the water. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
19 November 2024
Two Arrested After High-Speed Police Chase In West Belfast
Two men have been arrested following a high-speed police chase in west Belfast early Monday morning. At around 2:30 AM, police spotted a white Volkswagen Golf traveling at excessive speed on the Westlink.