A mum has begged people to stop sharing graphic footage of her teenage son being violently attacked in a Fife park.
The 15-year-old boy spent days in hospital was left bloodied and bruised after being punched and kicked in the face at Riverside Park in Glenrothes on Saturday, February 25. Five males aged between 14 and 16, have now been charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident, which was filmed by onlookers.
The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, issued the heartfelt plea for members of the public to “do the decent and human thing” by deleting the videos from their phones and social media.
She said: “I’m begging for the videos of the attack on my son to stop being shared around. Why anyone wants to watch them and send them to people is beyond me.”
The incident is the latest in a string of violent offences involving youngsters across Scotland which has sparked the Daily Record’s Our Kids … Our Future campaign. The campaign, which has been hailed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, is calling for the Scottish Government and local councils to ring-fence funding for youth-focused facilities.
We also want to see tech giants enforcing their policies on tackling harmful content such as videos of young people attacking others.
Our Kids, Our Future was launched in February after the Record reported on a disturbing series of attacks on teens. In October, we told how then 12-year-old Abbie Jarvis was beaten black and blue in a violent incident that left her in hospital for two days. She still hasn't been able to return to school.
Shortly after, the mum of 13-year-old Elle McLellan came forward to reveal a horrific attack that her daughter suffered from at the hands of bullies. She required bolts in her knee after her kneecap was smashed in a beating that took place just outside her front door in Glasgow.
Sickening clips of both incidents, alongside hundreds of others showing brutal attacks on kids, have gone viral on social media. Councillor Peter Gulline, for Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch, said representatives had been called to an urgent meeting with police after the latest incident.
He said: “After the horrendous events of the attack on a teenager in the town park, five teenagers have now been charged with attempted murder. Councillors were called to an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning to support Police Scotland and what is going to be a zero tolerance on misbehaving round the bus station and town park.
“The police are urging all parents to know where their children are."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Five people have been charged in connection with an assault on a 15-year-old boy at Riverside Park in Glenrothes on Saturday, 25 February. Male youths, aged 16, 15, 15,14, have now been charged in connection with the incident. Another 14-year-old boy had already been charged.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur said: “Youth violence can blight communities and ruin young lives. "To tackle the root causes we must do more to ensure there are places, services and support available for young people. That is why the Daily Record’s Our Kids … Our Future campaign is so important."
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