The Manager of the Louth and Meath LGBTQI Support Group and organiser of Drogheda/Meath Pride, Peter James Nugent, has condemned the brutal attack on a teenage boy which took place in Navan on Monday of this week.
The unfortunate victim was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital following the incident where doctors treated the young boy for serious facial injuries.
To add insult to injury, a video of the attack, which was perpetrated by a group of school students, was shared on social media, it shows them kicking and punching their victim, pulling his hair and screaming abuse at him.
“There is speculation that this was a homophobic attack” Peter told Drogheda Life. “While this is unconfirmed, we strongly stand with the people of Navan / Meath and surrounding areas.”
“This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable, we condemn it and ask people not to share the video.”
Peter told Drogheda Life that violent attacks on members of the LGBTQ community in Drogheda are not unusual but this attack on a minor has shocked him to the core.
He said that he tries to be a friendly voice in the community and has been inundated with phone calls from worried parents and others since the Navan attack.
“When I found out about it first and saw the video on Twitter I was horrified” he said. “I had a lump in my throat. I can’t stop imagining what that young person and his family are going through. I’m sure he is having flashbacks to what happened
“What I want to know is: “Will those students be brought to justice? And what will the school do?
