In one of the other weekend incidents, the Galliagh Co-op was robbed in a ram-raid attack at the weekend.
by Gareth Cross
gareth@derrynews.net
A 12-year-old girl has said she is afraid to return to school after being attacked by a gang of older girls in Galliagh at the weekend.
Local Independent councillor Warren Robinson said the girl's confidence had been badly affected by the attack.
It follows a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area at the weekend with wheelie bins being taken and burnt and residents being threatened.
There was also a ram-raid at the Galliagh Co-op in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police confirmed that the thieves made off with a haul of cigarettes after driving a car into the front of the shop.
Cllr Robinson called on parents to keep a closer eye on their children following a number of incidents in the area over the weekend.
“I’ve been contacted by a number of parents, some shaken, following incidents involving their children over the weekend. The first incident relates to a physical attack on a twelve-year-old girl by a group of fourteen-year-olds in the Galliagh Park area on Friday night," he said.
"The young girl’s mother contacted me to say that her child arrived home in a very distressed state after being attacked by older girls. She said the older girls were clearly drinking yet they were only fourteen years old.
"The mother told me that her daughter is terrified to leave the house and that her confidence has been badly affected. So much so that she is even afraid to go to school. This is intolerable and unacceptable and there are clear problems on so many levels here."
He raised questions around where 14-year-old girls got the alcohol.
"Firstly for children to think that it’s fine to bully, hurt and harass another child in the street. Secondly because these girls are known, I know they are fourteen years old yet by all accounts were running the streets drunk, they didn’t just attack this younger girl, they also abused residents in Galliagh and Fergleen as well. The questions must be asked where did they get the drink, who sold it to them or got it for them, where their parents aware of what they were doing?" said Cllr Robinson.
"The mother of the younger girl has been in touch with the parents of the other so they are now aware of their behaviour."
Threats
Besides the ram-raid attack and the girl-gange attack, there were were further incidents on Saturday in the Galliagh Park area - with one woman threatened with being burnt out of her house.
"There were further reports of intimidation and abuse of residents. One woman contacted me terrified after young people stole a wheelie bin from he back garden and proceeded to burn it just outside her backyard. When she went out to remonstrate she was confronted by a torrent of abuse and threats," said Cllr Robinson.
"The young people involved in this incident threatened to burn her out if she didn’t go away. Again this is the very worst of bullying. This woman felt totally helpless and afraid. All she could do was go into her home and lock her doors.
"She didn’t sleep as she felt that those she had spoken to were serious when they threatened to burn her house so she had a terrible night. This again is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged."
Residents were also threatened by teenagers who were drinking in the street.
"I was further contacted by other residents of Galliagh Park who were confronted by a large crowd of teenagers who were drinking and playing music beside bungalows in the estate," said Cllr Robinson.
"When they were asked to move they became aggressive and threatening. Again these are unacceptable and wrong and the community can not allow these incidents to continue."
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.