Gardai investigate alleged assault of teen by security guard in Limerick
GARDAI and the Private Security Authority (PSA) are both investigating an alleged assault on a young person by a security guard in Limerick city.
A video of the incident was shared by Limerick’s Word on the Street Facebook page over the weekend. It purportedly shows a security guard man-handling a young male and behaving in an aggressive manner towards him.
A member of the public intervenes to say, “Excuse me, you can’t hit a child”.
The security guard said: “I’m OK.” The passerby replies, “You’re not OK, you’re hitting a child, relax now alright, you can’t hit a child”. One of the friends of the prone male shouts, “He’s f*****g 14 man, relax”.
The end of the 23-second-long clip shows the security guard holding the young man’s hoodie and repeatedly telling him “Look at me”.
What occurred prior to the incident or afterwards is not known.
Limerick Live contacted both gardai and the PSA - the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland - in relation to the matter.
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are investigating an alleged incident of assault at a business premises on Ennis Road, Limerick on April 7. There are no arrests at this time. Investigations are ongoing.”
A spokesperson for the PSA said it is “aware of the incident and an investigation has been initiated”.
They added: “The PSA will be making no further comment on an open investigation.”