Four youths have appeared in court charged in connection with an assault on charity founder Ryan Gray and his dog. The war veteran founded a search-and-rescue organisation.
Assault on charity founder: Ryan Gray and dog Max suffer serious injuries
Ryan Gray, one of the founders of K9 Search and Rescue NI, becomes a victim of a horrific attack. He was walking with his dog Max along Bangor’s High Street on Friday evening.
The Iraq War veteran suffered serious injuries, including the loss of teeth, a fractured eye socket, and severe bruising. He required hospital treatment, while dog Max also needed veterinary care.
Police said the assailants punched Mr. Gray repeatedly in the face and kicked his dog several times.
However, in a statement, trustees of K9 Search and Rescue said Mr. Gray and Max were resting and recovering following the ordeal. They noted that Mr. Gray had dedicated his life to serving the community, with Max helping him.
Additionally, the trustees described the attack as a reflection of deeply concerning levels of anti-social behaviour. They added that while the incident had been difficult for the team, it had strengthened their resolve.
The organisation expressed gratitude to those who sent well-wishes and personal messages of support. They also thanked the police for swiftly identifying the suspects.
Police charge youths aged 13 to 16 as anti-social behaviour concerns rise
The group said that once Mr. Gray and Max had recovered, they would seek to engage positively with young people in the Bangor area. They added that they were committed to finding ways to support, inspire, and guide young people towards a more positive path.
According to detectives, they received a report on Friday of an ongoing incident involving a number of youths and a man on High Street in Bangor. Officers arriving at the scene saw several young people, most dressed in dark clothing, running off.
Additionally, a 13-year-old boy has been charged with assault, affray, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A 15-year-old boy faces the same charges, while another 15-year-old boy has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.
Also, a 16-year-old girl has been charged with affray and common assault.
“Police would like to thank all those members of the public who came forward to assist with inquiries following our appeal for information in relation to this incident,” A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the investigation remained ongoing and that further arrests would be made once other suspects were identified.
In a recent development, counter terrorism detectives have arrested two men in connection with the arson attack on a Jewish charity. The attack was on volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community in Golders Green.