Schoolboy (12) left ‘withdrawn and shaken’ after becoming victim of hate crime

Jackson Taylor, 12, sustained a black eye as he was attacked when he went for a walk on March 10 near his home in Alexandra Park / Castleton Avenue .

When asked for a comment police say they are now treating the incident as a “hate crime”.

They added they are now investigating a report of an assault on two boys, aged 12 and 14, in North Belfast on Wednesday (10th March).

Inspector Paul Noble said: ”It was reported that five males, possibly in their teens, were involved in the incident which took place in the Limestone Road area, sometime between 5pm and 8.30pm.

“The 12-year-old boy sustained two black eyes and a swollen lip while the 14-year-old boy received a punch to the face and was kicked in the leg.

“An investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a hate crime, is ongoing. We are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with any information that could help, to contact us on the non-emergency number 101 quoting the reference number 1674 10/03/2021, or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”

Jackson’s aunt, Julie McCord, today said: “He (Jackson) is only 12-years-old and he is not a fighter.

“He is a quiet child and this is the worst thing could have happened to him.

“He goes to Park on the Ravenhill Road (Special School) which helps him with his needs.

“His mum is still shaken up too with what happened.”

She added that the PSNI have met with the family and they are conducting an investigation.

“Everybody is going through a hard time as it is with the pandemic and now this happens to Jackson,” she added.

“Jackson had been doing remote learning from Christmas time and was just back to school but after that happened on the Wednesday he is saying hew does not want to go back again.

“He wouldn’t go in on the Thursday or the Friday of last week.

“Jackson keeps asking why it happened to him - he doesn’t understand.”

A post on Lower North Belfast Concerned Residents after the incident said it was “premeditated, extremely sinister, sectarian attack”.

The post adds that: “The young lad is still coming to terms with the vicious sectarian assault, still unable to not only process what happened,but why it happened.”

It adds: “Community reps contacted the family to offer support and were informed by members of his immediate family that Jackson has been very withdrawn,quiet and doesn’t want to leave his home.”

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