16-Year-Old Girl Suffers Severe Facial Injuries During Attack In Bangor

Three teenagers have been charged in connection with a serious assault of a 16-year-old girl in Bangor, County Down.

The assault occurred at about 7.30pm on Friday, 20 April. A video of the attack was posted to Facebook and shows the teenage victim being punched and kicked by a number of attackers, both male and female. At one point in the video, the victims head was struck off the ground.

The victim suffered severe injuries to her face and head and it is understood that her condition is serious enough that the hospital will be unable to take x-rays until next week.

According to reports, the attack continued after the video clip ends, with the victim having to be rescued from a fountain on the town's pier by a passing motorist.

Police have said that they have identified all suspects involved in the incident and two males, aged 17 and 16, and an 18-year-old woman, have been charged in connection with the attack. All three have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

Police said: "This was a particularly vicious attack on a young girl and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident on Friday evening to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1465 of 22/4/18."

Commenting on the video of the assault appearing on Facebook – the video has since been removed 'due to the violent and disturbing nature of injuries inflicted on a child, while she appealed for the violence to stop' – and numerous comments posted to the video, police said: "This video does not cover the entire sequence of events under investigation.

"A fair and balanced trial must be held in a Court of Law, where all the facts are presented and where legal representation is available.

"Justice must not be handed out by the community, with fists or feet, with base ball bats or down the barrel of a gun. These so called enforcers are no better than those to whom they accuse of using violence against others.

"Do not prejudge our investigation based on one social media post and one video clip.

"Using social media to threaten harm or violence, cause alarm, distress or harass, may be considered a criminal offence."

(MH/LM)