Schoolgirl fights off attacker

A 14-year-old girl has described how she escaped from a man who tried to drag her into bushes in west Belfast.

She was making her way home from a youth club on Monday night, when she was assaulted on the Stewartstown Road.

The teenager, who did not want to be identified, said on Wednesday that she managed to kick her attacker away, after he jumped out of bushes and grabbed her.

"The only way to get away from him was to boot him," she said.

God knows what he would have done if she hadn't fought him off - I'm glad she did Girl's mother

"He was trying to throw me into the bushes - he had me by both arms.

"I was thinking if I get home I'll be alright, but if he gets me, then that's me gone."

The girl's mother said it was a shock to hear such an incident could happen in the area.

"God knows what he would have done if she hadn't fought him off - I'm glad she did," she said.

The police are appealing for witnesses.