I am absolutely appalled at the vicious and cowardly attack on K9 Search & Rescue NI founder Ryan Gray and his dog Max in Bangor on Friday evening.
Ryan is someone who gives his time selflessly to help others through search and rescue work, often in the most challenging of circumstances. For him to be subjected to such a brutal assault, alongside his trained dog, is both shocking and deeply disturbing.
The reported involvement of a large group of youths in this attack raises very serious concerns about public safety and behaviour in our town centre. There can be no justification whatsoever for such violence. The fact that Max, a trained search and rescue dog, was also kicked and injured makes this incident all the more sickening.
My thoughts are with Ryan and Max as they recover from this ordeal. I hope both make a full and swift recovery.
I have also been made aware of a growing level of antisocial behaviour in shops and across Bangor town centre in recent weeks. A number of local businesses have contacted me directly to express their concerns. This is simply not acceptable.
I have been in contact with the PSNI and they are to do more patrols and are investigating the incident. The police need to get to grips with this situation as a matter of urgency.
I would urge anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI immediately. Those responsible must be identified and held fully accountable for their actions.
Incidents like this cannot and must not be tolerated in Bangor or anywhere else. Our community deserves to feel safe, and we must ensure that those who carry out such acts of violence face the full consequences of the law.
Alex Easton MP
Member of Parliament for North Down
