WHAT sort of society are we living in today?

My 12-year-old son, his 13-year-old sister, 12-year-old cousin and a friend were allowed to play in the Valley Gardens on Saturday. It is the first time they've been allowed to go, but we cannot protect them forever.

So off they went to play, with my usual instructions ringing in their ears...'be careful, if you are in any trouble or danger, go to the nearest grown up'.

I say this every time they leave the house as one of my children has been the victim of severe bullying recently.

They had not been there long before they were subject to an unprovoked, brutal attack by three boys.

My son and his cousin were thrown to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the head, face and body.

My daughter instantly ran to the nearest grown up, a man sat reading on a bench.

She pleaded with him to help, he told her to 'go away' and said he didn't want to get involved!

What kind of society are we living in today when a grown man will not help a panic stricken 13-year-old girl!?

My daughter says the man did look up from his book from time to time, and flinched at the attack he was witnessing, but still he chose to ignore it.

My daughter called me and I sped to the scene. The culprits had fled by this time.

I spoke to the man on the bench, and expressed my disappointment that he had not helped my children in their hour of need. He showed no remorse and simply said 'I didn't want to get involved and be attacked by hooligans'.

So sad that in this day and age people still choose to walk by on the other side when people ask for aid.

My son's injuries are as follows: Lacerations to the face and lip, soft tissue damage to the head, ligament damage to his back, whiplash and loss of voice due to a kick to his voicebox. My nephew also suffered a chipped tooth and soft tissue damage to the head.

The police have been notified and an investigation is underway.