The family of a young teenager that was subjected to a horrific attack in Meath which was filmed and posted online have described the incident as "vile".
The 14-year-old suffered concussion, broken teeth and extensive bruising in the assault which left him with a shoe print on his forehead.
The young man was only yards away from a family member's house to where he tried to crawl to safety as blows rained down on him by a group of teenagers from the same school.
It happened shortly after 2:30pm in Navan on Monday.
One member of his family said: "No 14-year-old should be beaten like that for anything at all, especially because of who he is. He is only a child and it happened across the road from a family member, where he was trying to get to.
"We are shocked, horrified and upset at what can happen in this day and age. It was a number of people against one boy, while others filmed it and posted it online. That is horrific and wrong
"He is doing ok and being very brave about it but I don't think the whole brevity of the incident or shock has fully hit him yet.
"What happened is out there now and although what happened to him can't be undone, I hope something can be done so no other child suffers like this."
The Irish Mirror has seen the shocking footage, however gardai have urged people not to share the video of the attack “out of respect for the victim”.
Following the attack, the youngster attended Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he received treatment for serious facial injuries.
Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Children Senator Mary Seery-Kearney described the attack as a “sickening display of violence and humiliation”.
She said: “This child and I assume he is a child, is being filmed as a group of pupils from a school pile on him, kicking him, punching him, pulling his hair, and taunting him.
“It is a sickening display of violence and humiliation and I can’t remember the last time I have seen anything so distressing
She added: “That this attack was filmed and posted on social media channels adds to the suffering of this child.
“The perpetrators of these criminal acts, and that is what they are, must be dealt with and a clear message needs to be sent from the Board of Management at the school, the Gardaí, and parents, that these shameful, cowardly and utterly disgusting acts will not be tolerated and will be punished.
“As legislators, the onus is also on us to ensure that our children are protected from all types of abuse, and we have seen the ugly side of social media with this – this needs to be stamped out urgently or our society will be in freefall for future generations.”
In the clip, the victim is seen walking through a green area in a housing estate before another person is spotted punching the youngster.
Another person in the video then proceeds to strike the teen - who is understood to be a secondary school pupil - in the head from behind. More attackers then charge at the victim as he tried to walk away to continue the beating.
The teen falls to the ground but the vicious thugs continue to punch and strike him repeatedly. A person in the background can be heard shouting “Come on, lads.”
At one point, the victim tries to stand up but once again is punched in the head from behind before the seemingly unprovoked beating comes to an end after others managed to push the attackers away.
Most of the people in the video appear to be wearing a school uniform.
In a statement, Gardai said they are “investigating an assault which occurred in the Navan area of Co. Meath on Monday, 15th May 2023 at approximately 2.30pm.
“A male juvenile, later attended Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he received treatment for serious facial injuries.”
They also urged people not to share the video of the attack “out of respect for the victim”.
The statement continued: “An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person with information on the assault to contact Navan Garda Station at 046 9079930.”
READ NEXT:
Derry GAA rejects claim Rory Gallagher was at post-match celebrations
Woman killed by lorry in Cork named locally as mother-of-four Margaret Lyons
Met Eireann give Ireland heatwave update with sun to continue into next week
M50 motorists baffled by three different speed limits within 20 metres
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
