12-year-old Ella McClay victim of sectarian attack in Derry city centre
The attack has left the 12-year-old too frightened to go back into the centre.
A video circulating on social media shows Ella McClay being attacked outside a café by a gang of mostly girls, who kick her and pull her hair as she crouches defenceless on the ground.
The 12-year-old said a former friend set her up after inviting her into the city centre.
When she arrived the group chased her through a shopping centre.
“My back is sore, they kicked my side and my head and all,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.
“We went to the police station and they’re going to look into it.”
Dad Paul says he had to collect her and was told she was attacked “for being a Prod”.
He said: “It sort of stunned me. There’s another video where you can hear them calling her an ‘orange b******’ and stuff, and that she doesn’t belong on this side of the town.
“She is very shook up and sore.”
UUP councillor Darren Guy said he was “disgusted” by what had happened to Ellie.
“She was set upon by both boys and girls, who were not too worried about how they left this young girl as they continuously kicked at her head and upper body,” said Cllr Guy.
“I would hope that if the parents of the attackers notice any of their kids taking part in this attack after watching the shocking video… they would do the right thing and inform the PSNI.
“We as a society are 25 years after the Belfast Agreement, and we have all failed miserably in dealing with sectarianism.
“This has to change,” he added.
The PSNI said it received a report about an assault on a girl in Shipquay Place by a number of others at around 5.20pm on Monday, April 3, 2023.
It is being investigated as a sectarian hate crime and police appealed to anyone with information or who witnessed it to get in touch.
A screen grab of the attack on Ellie McClay in Derry city centre
“We believe that every person has the right to go about their lives without being the target of abusive language, or criminal behaviour motivated by hate or prejudice.
“We all have a role in eliminating this behaviour from our society.
“There is no place for hate and we take reports of this nature incredibly seriously.”
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference number 937 of 05/04/23.
They can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.
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