The mum of a Glasgow teenager who stabbed a schoolboy to death said he was "living in fear" due to violence in his local area.
Daniel Haig was just 16 when he stabbed Justin McLaughlin, 14, through the heart at High Street station in October 2021.
The now 18-year-old was convicted of murder last month and is due to be sentenced in August.
His mum Hazel has spoken out about her son's experience of youth violence and how the "cycle of fear" that is now plaguing her young daughter, reports the Daily Record.
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The 42-year-old from Shettleston said Daniel had witnessed his best friend being slashed with a machete in the weeks before he fatally stabbed Justin - and felt forced to arm himself with a knife over fears he would also become a victim of a brutal blade attack.
Hazel said: “We were horrified to discover Justin had died. Daniel clearly lost control because of the violence in our area at the time. He was traumatised after seeing one of his friends almost killed by a gang with a machete.
“Kids were organising fights online and there were also random street attacks. There were pictures all over social media showing young children holding massive weapons and using gang signs.
“The day before Justin was murdered, Daniel was attacked by a gang of boys. I remember him asking me: ‘Mum, where am I going to be safe?’ We weren’t aware of Daniel carrying a knife before this happened. He was raised to be against carrying weapons.
“If we had known he was we wouldn’t have let him out the door. But I believe it shows how desperate and scared he was. He was a 16-year-old boy living in fear because of youth violence in our area.”
Mum-of-four Hazel said her family has been left devastated by Daniel’s crime and is backing calls from Justin’s family to end youth violence.
She continued: “Two families have been destroyed. We are suffering as well and we also want the violence to stop for all children. We don’t want to see any other kids or parents going through this.”
Hazel also believes that tougher measures and more support needs to be put in place for youths involved in violent offending.
She said: “More needs to be done when kids are caught with knives because that may stop other children feeling like they also need to do it to defend themselves.
“Daniel was a bright boy who wanted to be an engineer. He could have had great opportunities in the near future. But that’s all gone now. When his pal was attacked the street cameras were broken so the person who attacked him was never caught.
“Now Daniel’s wee sister is being terrorised by the same gang. She was beaten up in the street and received threats online. She’s now scared to go out on her own so the fear cycle just continues.
“Children are being hurt and not enough action is being taken. This is leaving kids frightened that they could be next. It gives off the wrong signal. If more action is taken then more lives can be saved.”
Hazel has echoed concerns that bullying and violence among young people have increased following the pandemic.
She added: “I’ve spoken to other mums and they agree that their kids being locked in during Covid had a massive impact on them.
“Daniel’s whole personality had changed by the end of it.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the important role that councils have in delivering local youth work services – such as youth centres, youth groups and youth projects. This is why we are increasing the resources available to local government next year by over £570 million through the 2023-24 Local Government Settlement.”
“Our new violence prevention strategy aims to cut violent crime and reduce the harm it causes, supported by wider investment of more than £2 million. This funding supports a range of preventative approaches, including the work of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, Medics Against Violence, and No Knives, Better Lives which offer services and support to divert youths away from violence.”
