Man arrested after alleged assault on Dungannon schoolchildren

A 52-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting two primary schoolchildren during an incident in Dungannon Park this morning.

A PSNI spokesperson said, “Police in Dungannon received a report of assault at Dungannon Park… It was reported shortly after 11am that a man had assaulted two schoolchildren by pushing them.

“Officers attended and arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of two counts of common assault.

“The man currently remains in police custody.”

An eyewitness told We Are Tyrone that the primary school children were on an outing in the park when a man ‘aggressively charged’ at the group of children, knocking two pupils over.

They added that a ‘swift and courageous’ teacher intervened and shielded the children before police arrived.

Local Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson, Ian Irwin, said that it had been a ‘disturbing and dangerous’ incident.

Mr Irwin said, “As a father, I share the fear of many parents for the safety of my children. No parent should have to worry about something like this happening during a school outing or at a public park.

He added, “I am calling for an increased police presence in the town to help the public feel safe. My thoughts are with the pupils and staff of the school for what must have been a traumatising experience.”