Hate crime: ‘I am lucky to be alive’ says father attacked by gang in North Belfast on Twelfth while shopping with son

A Protestant man who was taking his son shopping in north Belfast on the Twelfth feels “lucky to be alive” after being attacked by a gang of youths in what he believes was an act of sectarian “hatefulness”. 
Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds on his head after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds on his head after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.
Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds on his head after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.

Robert McClean, 45, was taking his 13 year-old-son to buy slippers at Yorkgate Shopping Centre on the Twelfth when he walked past a large group of teenagers congregating at the North Queen Street gate.

The father-of-five believes he was targeted because he entered from the ‘Protestant’ side of the shopping centre and says the gang responsible then ran off towards the nationalist New Lodge area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police say they are treating the attack, which took place about 7.40pm, as a hate crime.

Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds from his hands after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds from his hands after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.
Robert McClean from Tigers Bay shows wounds from his hands after being attacked by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a hate crime.

“We left my house in the Duncairn area of Tiger’s Bay and walked through the Protestant end of North Queen Street and went into Yorkgate through the side gate,” he told the News Letter.

“There were a whole lot of youths at the gate as I was walking through. They knew fine rightly I was a Protestant, from the direction I came from.”

He did not see the attack coming.

“They just attacked me from behind. About five or six teenagers attacked me.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was not wearing any clothing signifying political allegiances.

He remembers hitting the ground and then losing consciousness for around five seconds.

“It went on for a few minutes. My son was crying - ‘leave my daddy alone, leave my daddy alone’.”

Officers in a nearby police Land Rover witnessed the attack and were quickly on the scene.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But the lads who did it ran off immediately in the direction of the New Lodge.”

He says police have confirmed that they have viewed CCTV footage of the attack from the shopping centre.

“To be honest with you I just got my tripe knocked in. I have four staples in my head and three stitches in my knee and my hands are all cut.”

“But I think I was a bit lucky. I could have been six feet under. Some people die when they get punched on the back of the head.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He is still suffering from a sore head and his son is traumatised from what he witnessed.

“The point is, I don’t like being attacked right in front of my son. I don’t think that is right at all.  

“I think it is bang out of order. I have nothing against Catholic people, I have a lot of Catholic friends.”

He regularly socialises with Catholic friends that he knows through his work as a chef.

“But those wee boys are crazy. It is just hatefulness.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He did not see any other violence in North Belfast area over the weekend, when police were repeatedly attacked with petrol bombs and stones over several nights. A range of media outlets reported that petrol bomb attacks on police on Saturday came from the nearby nationalist New Lodge area.

But Mr McClean did not see any of the trouble.

“I just keep myself to myself. I don’t care what goes on up there, I just went round to my mates house and had a couple of drinks.”

He believes he was attacked because it was the Twelfth but beyond that, can’t imagine the mind-set of those responsible.

“That is up to them. It is maybe drummed into their blood.” He has nothing to say to the youths that attacked him.

“Just are just stupid wee boys. That is all they are.” 

He is now talking to his solicitor about pressing charges.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The PSNI said they are investigating an assault on a 45-year-old man at a retail park on York Street, Belfast on Sunday 12 July.

“The victim, who was with his teenage son, was attacked from behind by a group of youths at around 7.40pm,” police said. “He sustained a wound to the back of his head which required hospital treatment. Anyone who was in the area and who witnessed the assault, which is being treated as a hate crime, is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1972 12/07/20.”

The News Letter has asked police if they will be releasing CCTV footage of the attack to identify suspects.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor