Leo Varadkar is calling on the attackers’ parents.
A 14-year-old boy was victim to a brutal attack in Navan on Monday and suffered serious facial injuries as a result.
He suffered with a concussion, multiple broken teeth and extensive bruising. He was also left him with a shoe print on his forehead.
The horrific assault was videoed and showed the teenager crawling to safety as he was just metres from his home.
Gardaí are investigating the attack as an alleged hate crime.
Members of the victim’s family spoke out and said he is “still trying to come to terms” with everything that has happened.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made an appeal to the parents of the children who carried out this horrendous act.
He said he would get in contact with the victim’s family and that he was “appalled” by what happened in Navan on Monday.
Varadkar said: “It seems to me that the young man was targeted, essentially because he’s different, and was subjected to a very violent assault.
“And what’s worse still is people felt the need to video it, and then put it online, it takes a particular type of person to post pictures and videos of people with the purpose of humiliating them, a particularly nasty type of individual does that type of thing.”
The politician also called for the attackers’ parents to take action and do the right thing.
He said: “I think there is a real issue here with parental responsibility.
“Those young people are easily identified. Those parents know who they are and they need to act and take responsibility for this as well.”
“Life does get better”.
The boy is now recovering from his injuries at home with his family and last night, spoke with Gardaí.
Leo Varadkar reassured the boy that “life does get better” although, his family said he is “still processing the traumatic event.”
A family member said: “We have a couple of appointments with Gardaí later today.
“He’s under a lot of pressure at the minute with everything that’s going on. He hasn’t had a chance to let what happened sink in.
“We don’t know what disciplinary proceedings have been put in place yet, but the school and the guards are investigating.
“The support he’s received is amazing, but it was a shocking thing to have happened. It’s still very fresh but we have a big family and lots of support.”
Other members of his family took to social media to thank those who have shown their support.
They’re encouraging anyone with information or footage of any kind from the attack to come forward.
School disciplinary policies are in place.
The Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) confirmed that guidance and counselling have been introduced at the school for those affected by the attack.
They’ve also confirmed that disciplinary procedures are getting under way at the school.
They said: “School disciplinary policies and procedures are being implemented.
“The patron has visited the housing estate where the incident occurred.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the incident did not occur on school grounds but rather occurred on a green area in an adjacent housing estate.”
