Shock after racist attack on 11 year old boy in Warrenpoint

The local community has rallied in support of a Polish family in Warrenpoint after an 11 year old boy was assaulted in what police are treating as a hate crime.

The young boy was assaulted in a Warrenpoint park

11-year-old Igor Tredewicz suffered facial injuries after he was attacked in Clonallon Park in Warrenpoint on Saturday.

The news spread rapidly after the victim’s mother Gosia Tredewicz shared pictures of her son’s bloodied face on Facebook in the aftermath of the assault, which she said happened because he was Polish.

The post read, “My heart is broken, my poor wee boy was attacked today by few children in Clonalon Park because he’s Polish. After 9 years in Ireland it’s hard to believe that.”

The post was subsequently shared nearly 900 times on social media and the family received widespread support from outraged locals.

The young victim’s mother later posted an update, “Thank you to all of you amazing people for all your messages and all those lovely comments they mean a lot to us.

His mother Gosia shared this post on Facebook about the attack

She added, “I’m sorry but I wasn’t able to open all of those messages and reply to them. I’m trying to read and answer them but I’m still getting new ones. Thank you for all good wishes, Igor is feeling much better today.”

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed the attack. “Around 5.55pm on Saturday, two boys, one aged 11 years old and one aged 8-years-old, became involved in a fight at a park in Clonallon Park.

“A number of other children intervened to break up the fight. The 11-year-old boy sustained an injury to his face. This is perceived to be a hate incident and enquiries are ongoing. The matter will also be referred to the youth diversion officer.”

Speaking to Newry Times, Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane said that the attack was wrong. “I am disappointed children as young as ten have engaged in what seems to be a racist attack on a boy from a Polish family,” she said.

“This young boy has lived most of his life in Ireland and needs to be treated as an equal citizen. All forms of hate crimes whether it is racism, sectarianism or homophobia are wrong and we need to stand up and tackle it in all its forms.

“I hope that the parents and schools of the children involved act immediately given the seriousness of the incident to educate these children how wrong racism is and that the boy makes a full and speedy recovery.”

Local Councillor Mickey Ruane echoed his party colleague’s sentiments. “We have had a number of families from other countries who have settled in Warrenpoint and the surrounding area over the past number of years.

“They have been welcomed by all right thinking citizens and have contributed to our society in a really positive way. We have always hoped and expected that they would be treated with dignity and respect.

“It is therefore shocking to find that there are some who would deny that same respect to others who have chosen to come to live in our town, in search for nothing more than a better life for themselves and their children,” Ruane added.

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jun 30 2015. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry