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4:35pm Monday 21st April 2008
A TEENAGER was left unconscious after a vicious attack on him and his two friends.
Ryan Callaghan and Tom Walker, both 16, and a 16-year-old friend were set upon by a group of up to 10 youths outside the New Moon Chinese takeaway, Chapel Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, at 10.15pm.
Tom was knocked to the ground and received kicks and stamps to his head as he lay unconscious.
Ryan's father Martin Callaghan said the three boys, all pupils at St Bede's High School, had gone to get a takeaway when some of the youths asked them for cigarettes. When the teenagers said they did not smoke, Ryan was headbutted twice and punched in the side of the face.
When Tom stepped in to help, he was knocked down, with attackers continuing to kick and stamp on his head.
All three boys were left with bloodied noses and other facial injuries, and Tom had to spend the night in the Royal Blackburn Hospital after the attack, on Friday.
The boys' families have expressed concern that police did not make it to see the boys until more than an hour later.
Police said they went to the scene of the attack within five minutes of a call from the ambulance service, but on finding that the ambulance was gone and no-one was there, they left.
They did not speak to the victims until 11.25pm, after another phone call from Martin Callaghan, Ryan's father. Police said they had driven round the area looking for the attackers before visiting the boys, but found nothing.
Tom's father Christopher said: "They actually stamped on Tom's head, and when you think what could have happened - a girl in Bacup died after that happened to her - it's really frightening.
"He doesn't have any recollection of what happened."
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "Police received a call at 22.19 from the ambulance to ask for our attendance to a street disturbance. Our support unit attended the scene within seven minutes and on arrival, the ambulance was no longer present.
"People at the scene were spoken to and there did not appear to be any problem. On later receiving calls from the parents of the people involved, we attended for a second time."
"The incident happened at approximately 10.15pm on New Chapel Street Blackburn where three 16-year-old boys were set upon by a group of other youths. One parent took her son to hospital where he received treatment for facial injuries before being released.
"An investigation is underway to identify those responsible. The Neighbourhood Policing team are making enquiries in the local area and are viewing CCTV footage. Since the incident, an officer has attended the hospital and a witness has come forward."
One of the offenders was a white and 5ft 8ins.
Witnesses should contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 quoting log reference number 342eq/180408 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
billy, Audley says...
5:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Valley Boy, says...
5:47pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Pete wrote:And what are YOU doing to change things then ?
7 minutes?!!!!! There\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
Lee, Blackburn says...
6:43pm Mon 21 Apr 08
just me xx, lancs says...
10:08pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Pete wrote:well said...
7 minutes?!!!!! There\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
CHRiS, Ewood says...
10:37pm Mon 21 Apr 08
escaped, Spain says...
11:31pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Pete wrote:I agree with your posting Pete but the Police in the Community Centre could have been busy elswhere, we don't yet know if the CCTV was (probably was) defective as you suggest. They WILL however know who did carry out the attack, but as usual with the scales of justice favouring the criminal the police are pis***g against the proverbial. these thugs will not get a holiday in Florida because they wont get prosecuted for their actions, maybe a caution. You're Right about Britain being 'dead' I happen to think it's fkd, but the blame has to lie at the threshhold of this government who cater for all types of minorities (including criminals) to win votes, and by stealth have made our once world renowned Police Service political puppets.
7 minutes?!!!!! There's police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain't working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they'll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
Pete, Darwen says...
11:53pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Valley Boy wrote:I'm trying to educate kids in schools, going out to youth groups, running clubs in community centres. I have for 20 years and always been positive about it. But over the last 2 years I've reached a point where I'm thinking society is beyond help for 3 generations or more. The govt are letting down the working classes again - this time not by favouring the middles but the underclass. This is sinking into kids aged 6 or 7 - antisocial behaviour is something to achieve. The next generation in this country is going to be horrific. So what are YOU doing about it?
Pete wrote: 7 minutes?!!!!! There\\\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\\\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\\\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.And what are YOU doing to change things then ?
stooball66, blackburn says...
8:59am Tue 22 Apr 08
WayneKerr, says...
9:15am Tue 22 Apr 08
Pete wrote:Pete you are quite right,
Valley Boy wrote:I'm trying to educate kids in schools, going out to youth groups, running clubs in community centres. I have for 20 years and always been positive about it. But over the last 2 years I've reached a point where I'm thinking society is beyond help for 3 generations or more. The govt are letting down the working classes again - this time not by favouring the middles but the underclass. This is sinking into kids aged 6 or 7 - antisocial behaviour is something to achieve. The next generation in this country is going to be horrific. So what are YOU doing about it?Pete wrote: 7 minutes?!!!!! There\\\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\\\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\\\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.And what are YOU doing to change things then ?
sooz, says...
1:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08
peter, bburn says...
5:50pm Tue 22 Apr 08
ciara, Blackburn says...
10:04am Wed 23 Apr 08
john, blackburn says...
10:32am Wed 23 Apr 08
Martin, Rishton says...
12:31pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Deano, Mill Hill says...
3:11pm Wed 23 Apr 08
john wrote:Of course it's the parents responsibility to make sure that their kids are raised to show respect for other people!
The little sh1ts, wot r the parents of these scumbags doin while there kids r out beatin up other people for fun?? its absoloutly disgusting i would be so ashamed if one of them brats wer mine! you nob ,(what are the parents doing) then you say you,d be a shamed if one of the brats is yours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,so your saying you dont no if it is yours or not ,just like every other parent when there kids go out to play,,,i take it you have a tracker on your kids so you no where they r 24/7.. i just get so sick of everyone saying what r there parents doing while this is going on ,there proberly doing what every other parent does when the kids go out ,clean, wash iron, cook etc
Pete, Darwen says...
10:58pm Wed 23 Apr 08
sooz, tit says...
11:15pm Thu 24 Apr 08
sarah On The Move Again, On The Go says...
10:20pm Sat 14 Jun 08
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Pete, Darwen says...
4:44pm Mon 21 Apr 08