Issue 153

Student injured in village violence

26th February 2007

On 9 February a harmless snowball fight between students and local children at Hendrefoilan suddenly escalated into a violent situation which left one girl, Katie Parker, unconscious after having a log thrown at her head.

A friendly snowball fight between students had begun, when local children from Olchfa, the comprehensive school opposite Hendrefoilan, who use Hendrefoilan as a short cut to walk home, began to join in causing the snowball fight to get out of hand.

Parker said that, "Later on in the day about 30-50 schoolchildren gathered outside the Spar shop and started throwing snowballs at us, the Spar workers and at innocent people driving past."

Event's soon reached breaking point when large numbers of students chased the local children back into the woods opposite the tennis court. As Parker was walking back through the woods she noticed that the children were following them, throwing logs and sticks.

"It was at this time that one of them hit me across the back of the head causing me to collapse into another tree," said Parker.

Due to the injury, Parker has a small fracture on her skull. Students who saw her fall to ground covered her in coats and carried her to the Tutors house.

Parker said that, "The situation got out of hand when damage to cars and houses occurred. The children saw it was making us angrier and continued to cause damage."

Both of the Spar workers recalled that one of the ring leaders, dressed in orange, had bricks in his pocket. It has also been reported that the local children had put stones inside snowballs and were also throwing glass bottles.

Audra Cordwell, who was working in the Hendrefoilan Spar at the time said that, "It was really frightening. I am ashamed to say that I recognise some of these kids." Owen Morgan, Students' Union President said that, "I am happy to hear that students were not responsible for damage and or any injury caused. The Students' Union are addressing the issue." Although Parker has had to recuperate for two weeks, she is still happy to live in the Student Village.

"Normally security is very good at the Village, but at times like Halloween and days when there is snow there should be more security," said Parker. Ian Macpherson, Deputy Director of Estates, is compiling a report for the University and said that, "We will liaise with the school. Everyone is keen to identify the culprits. We are reluctant to make Hendrefoilan a sealed site. A 2 metre fence is not the sort of community that students want to live in.

We need to review the general security and we want to discourage any retaliatory measures." When asked about events in the Student Village on Friday 9 February, PC Peter Edwards said that, "Enquiries are still ongoing on to establish any witnesses. The incident involving Katie was a one-off.

The situation escalated from a friendly snowball fight and has ended in injury." PC Edwards also said that parents from Olchfa comprehensive school have been informed as the school has sent out letters.

Edwards said that, "the Police School Liaison Officer will also be attending various schools highlighting potential problems from throwing snowballs. I would urge students not to retaliate during any future snowfall."

Jason Sannegadu