A police probe is underway after “sectarian abuse” was shouted at children while they were playing football in Co Down.
A young person shouted an offensive slur at a training group, understood to be an under-12s football team, in the village of Clough on Wednesday, October 9.
The incident is being treated as a hate crime.
PSNI officers patrolled the area and liaised with those responsible for the children following the incident in an effort to provide reassurance.
“Police received a report that a young person had shouted sectarian abuse at a group of children during football training in Clough on Wednesday, 9th October,” a spokesperson said.
“Officers patrolled the area immediately following the report, which is being treated as a hate crime, and liaised with those responsible for the children in order to provide reassurance.
“Anyone with information on the person who shouted the abuse is asked to contact officers on 101, quoting reference number 1528 09/10/24.”