A 12-year-old boy with special needs was injured when he was attacked for a second time outside the Kileely Court community centre last Friday afternoon.
Gardai in Mayorstone are investigating the incident which resulted in the boy sustaining bruising to his face, eye, arms and head when he was attacked by two other boys.
One of his neighbours, who is a young mother, said that he was a soft target and not capable of fighting back in the same way another boy his age would be.
“This is the second time he has been attacked. The first incident happened over a year ago when he was knocked unconscious after being repeatedly hit in the head. He spent several days in hospital with concussion.
“The victim is in the same class as one of the attackers and is so traumatised by the events is unable to go to school. The other boy is only eleven years old so little can be done by the Gardaí except to refer him the HSE social workers.
“What is our world coming to when this is how our young people are acting and already treating vulnerable people in such a deplorable manner,” she said.
The investigation is being handled by Mayorstone Gardaí.