THE mother of a boy attacked by a sectarian gang at Lurgan Park has paid an emotional tribute to a young couple she believes saved her son's life.
Last Wednesday two teenage boys were left badly shaken after being attacked by a group of up to 15 males.
The boys, a 12-year-old and the other 13, were targeted as they walked home from Lurgan Park. They only escaped when they flagged down a car
and the couple inside ferried them to safety.
The incident happened as the boys, from Allenhill and Forest Glade, were making their way along Windsor Avenue. They were attacked by the gang around 5pm.
One boy's mother said had it not been for the young couple passing in their car, things could have been much worse.
She said: "My son was left badly bruised with a huge lump on his head.
"The boys were in the park playing with a group from the YMCA and they were leaving to go home.
"The gang must have been watching them, the boys were wearing their school blazers earlier in the day but had taken them off because it was so hot."
She was convinced there was a sectarian motive behind the attack.
The mother went on: "They shouted abuse at the boys as they hit them, it was absolutely sectarian. But the boys managed to get free of the gang and ran up Windsor Avenue to escape.
"The gang gave chase but luckily the boys managed to flag down a passing car and thankfully it stopped.
"The young couple took them to the golf club where they sat and waited for [the parents] to show up.
"In the confusion and emotion of it all I just wanted to make sure my son got to hospital.
"I never really thanked the couple but now I realise that had they not been passing or stopped then my son and his friend could have been really badly beaten - they saved his life."
The boys were taken to hospital, they were badly shaken by the attack but their injuries were not serious.
She continued: "My son is a quiet boy, there is no malice in him and this attack has left him scared to go near the park or Windsor Avenue."
Police are investigating the attack and have issued an appeal for information.
There have been a number of sectarian attacks in the town in recent weeks. At the beginning of June two young boys were injured after a gang set upon them as they were leaving Lurgan Show.
A week later a Catholic teenager was mistaken for a Protestant and set upon in what was thought to be a revenge attack.
And on Sunday past four 13-year-olds were verbally abused and chased out of Lurgan Park.
Police are appealing for information and can be contacted on 0845 600 8000.
