A woman said she was left ‘sick to her stomach’ after claiming that a young girl was attacked by a group of children outside a McDonald’s in Trafford.
Kelly Van Niekerk and her partner Shane Conneely were at the McDonald’s restaurant at Trafford Retail Park in Urmston at around 6pm on Saturday evening (June 4) when they said they witnessed a group of children ‘pushing and hitting’ a 12-year-old girl.
The couple, who drove the girl home, said the 12-year-old’s hair was ‘falling out’ and she suffered cuts to her knee as a result of the incident. Posting on Facebook, Kelly wrote: “We were sat eating inside and we saw her being pushed to the floor and viciously being hit and her hair being pulled and we instantly ran outside.
“When we got out, all the kids ran off and this young 12 year old girl was walking towards us. We asked her if she was okay and she explained to us what had happened. Her hair was falling out, she had a nasty cut on her knee and she just looked so frightened, I wanted to cry with her.
“This group of kids were given her location by her so-called friend and sent down to fight her. If any of your kids were at McDonald’s at the Trafford Retail Park after 6pm yesterday (Saturday) you should be ashamed that they would even think it’s remotely okay or normal to treat another human being like this. I can’t express how sick to my stomach I feel after this. I couldn’t even close my eyes to sleep last night without it replaying in my head.”
Kelly said she and her partner then drove the young girl home to make sure she got back safely. She added: “From the brief discussion we had in the car, she seems to be a lovely girl inside and out and doesn’t deserve to be treated the way she is by these other nasty young kids.
“I really do hope the young girl is okay. I can’t stand bullying, it’s one of the worst things imaginable in this world and if there is anything we can do to help anyone we will.”
Speaking to the M.E.N, Kelly added: “My partner was a gem, he ran out first and calmed her down ever so well. He really made her feel safe. We then drove her to the top of her road to make sure she got home okay as the walk from Trafford retail park was far too long. We would never have forgiven ourselves if we left her and they had come back.
“It was a horrible sight to see, it makes me scared to think we are having a baby in 3 weeks time and that’s the world I’ve to raise my first ever child in. The thought that that could happen to my child makes me sick. It has really troubled me and my partner, we just really want to find out she’s okay as our hearts break."
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they received reports of the incident and their investigation is continuing. A GMP spokesperson said: “Enquiries are on-going and anyone with information is asked to report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk .”
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