Scottish Catholic Observer

Roisin Walker, a pupil at St Margaret Mary’s High School in Castlemilk, is finally walking again and was released from hospital on Wednesday night, after she was struck by a car driven into a group of children in Castlemilk on March 24. A 21-year-old man was the driver’s intended target. Four other children—two boys and two girls—as well as the man were treated for minor injuries.

Elaine Seery, St Margaret Mary’s headteacher, said: “The whole school community is shocked by the incident and we will be saying prayers for Roisin and supporting the family in any way that we can.”

Police are treating the incident as attempted murder, and are looking to trace the driver of the silver Vauxhall Astra that was involved, with the car found burnt out around a mile away in Carmunnock.

The girl’s mother, Trish McGonigal, told the BBC Scotland that Roisin had broken her neck between the sixth and seventh vertebrae and had to be stabilised as soon as possible.

Roisin took her first steps in hospital on Sunday. Her mother added: “She has absolutely no fear. I’m so proud of her.”

Police confirmed a 21-year-old man was passing the group of youngsters when crossing Stravannan Road around 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon.

The car struck him before driving into the group, continuing along Stravannan Road and hitting a Volkswagen Passat.

Police have confirmed they are following a number of lines of inquiry, reviewing CCTV footage, and making inquiries door-to-door, while extra police patrols will be in the area to order to reassure the community.

Roisin’s sister, 21-year-old Jamieleigh Walker, urged those with any information to contact the police.

She said that her sister was in Glasgow city centre on Saturday afternoon, before returning to Castlemilk shortly before the incident. Having went to a shop close by with friends to get food, the car was then driven at them.

Miss Walker added that a man had been walking alongside the youngsters and was the vehicle’s intended target, which crashed into another car after hitting the girls and reversed to get away.

She said the car drove over her sister again when reversing.

“Then they drove away without even getting out to see if she was OK,” she said. “It’s disgusting. They deserve to be caught. They should not be on the streets.”

The brave schoolgirl told how she pushed her friend out of the way to take the impact of the car, and did not want her mum to know what had happened in case she would worry.

“I was telling everyone not to call my mum, I didn’t want her to worry,” she told The Scottish Sun.

“I don’t remember anything about it. One minute I was talking to my pals and the next thing everything went blank,” she added. “I came round and the first thing I remember doing was trying to get up.

“I was in hysterics and crying, ‘What’s happened, what’s happened?’ There was screaming and crying and I saw two of my pals with injuries.

“I was so confused. I had a sore neck and arm and my knee was bleeding.

“Two shopworkers helped me on to a crate and stopped me moving. The worker said I’d been hit by a car and it had driven away.

“I was telling everyone not to call my mum because I didn’t want her to worry.”

Detective Inspector Peter Sharp, said: “Six people have been injured in this incident, five of whom are children.

“Those responsible have shown total disregard for the safety of the public, this must have been a terrifying experience for those involved and it’s imperative we trace whoever is responsible.

“I am appealing to people to contact us with any information, it doesn’t matter if you think your information is not important, still pass it on as it could help us piece together the exact circumstances of what has happened and why.”