Copy cats.

You read it all the time. Crime investigation withholding facts to deter people from getting the idea to do something similar. I tried to have a slightly more benevolent view of human nature and hoped this was a rarity.

Two weeks ago Liam Davin told Lunchtime about a horrendous attack on his 14-year-old son who was forced to eat twigs. The thugs who did this singled out the boy because he was vulnerable.

He was autistic.

You can listen to the interview here.

Last week news broke of an attack on a man with learning disabilities in Fairview Park. He had gone to look at tractors which were working in the vicinity. His sister described the attack when speaking to Newstalk Breakfast.

Again, the brave men filmed the attack on their phones.

What is going on here?

When did it become ‘fun’ to attack extremely vulnerable members of society and film it? Where does that thinking come from?

Thankfully, I have not felt threatened on the streets. I’ve had fingers pointed at me by toddlers. Not the same thing.

Fingers pointed by nine or ten-year-olds? If they are with parents, I glare at the parents or, in exceptional circumstances, whip out my iPhone and type out ‘damn fine parenting skills’. Embarrass the parents and you know the kids will get the message.

In the past few years, I started to think twice about walking by a large group of teens. Of either sex. Am I going too far in thinking that it is cool to attack disabled people?

I’m trying to get my mind around the mindset of those who attack disabled people. Is it economic? Oh yes, we know disabled people milk the system. Is it political? Some gangs of scum-bags thinking they are striking a blow for the great master race? Or was it pure teenage kicks? Hey, it’s now a coming-of-age milestone to kick and punch a disabled person?

It’s wrong. No ifs nor buts.

Wrong.