TEENAGE WARFARE

The boy, a Protestant, was on Millennium Way on Saturday when a gang attacked him.

The boy's mother told the 'MAIL' he was rushed to intensive care, however he was later moved to a ward on Sunday and is now in a stable condition.

She said: "The doctors suspected he had bleeding on the brain, however the swelling has gone down and he is in a better condition.

"He is unsteady on his feet but talking, he says he has no memory of what happened.”

It's been alleged two groups, one Protestant and the other Catholic, were shouting obscenities and throwing stones at each other before the assault.

Police arrested three youths who were later released on bail pending further enquiries.

Witnesses have said trouble escalated and the Catholic group gave chase when the boy slipped and fell just before the gang attacked him.

Staff at Tesco rushed to the teenager's rescue and called the authorities.

A father whose son witnessed the attack said: "They gave the boy a terrible beating.

"They used his head as a football. My son said there were mainly 14 or 15-year-olds involved, but there were also men running around with sticks or baseball bats.

"To me this has been an orchestrated attack."

It's thought this latest incident is the result of a long running feud between rival gangs.

The scene of the incident has a growing reputation as an interface area where Catholics and Protestants clash.

It's believed that the victim was subject to threats before the attack and has received more following the assault.

Another witness added: "When the boy was lying there unconscious on the ground the gang continued to kick and stamp on his head with such viciousness.

"If it were not for the actions of a brave young man who risked his own life to help the boy, he could have been killed."

The teenager was attacked shortly after 10pm on Saturday night.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the attack to contact them.

They can be contacted on 0845 600 8000, alternatively information about crime can be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.