Teen on life support after party bashing

[Gumleaf]

12:51 AEST Sun Nov 2 2008


A 16-year-old Melbourne bashing victim is fighting for his life in hospital.

Police say the boy, a guest at a 16th birthday party, was one of about 15 people involved in a brawl in a car park at the back of the house in North Balwyn, in Melbourne's east, about 11.30pm (AEDT) on Friday.

He was knocked out by a punch but later regained consciousness and was driven home by a friend.

However, his parents were unable to rouse him the following morning and he is now in the Royal Melbourne Hospital on life support with a serious brain injury.

Police appealed to any of the 50 people at the party whom they have not interviewed to come forward.

"It's an absolute tragedy," Detective Sergeant Graham Guy said.

"I've had the unfortunate experience to speak to his parents this morning and they are absolutely distraught that their son is in this condition."

He said a number of people were helping police with their inquiries.

[Whisper]

Brain swelling?

[JoshDude]

Brain swelling?

Thats what I thought.
Its pretty tragic, considering events like this happen quite often in Melbourne, Australia (where I live).

[Malcolm Tucker]

This is just awful. I hope the person that did this gets put away..

[Gumleaf]

Thats what I thought.
Its pretty tragic, considering events like this happen quite often in Melbourne, Australia (where I live).

you're from melbourne? i was there on hols 2 weeks ago.



Youth dies after bashing at party

Monday, November 3, 2008


The family of a Melbourne teenager fatally bashed at a party on Friday night say he was a "beautiful boy" who always made people happy.

The youth, named by the Nine Network as 16-year-old Kew High School student Justin Galligan, was a guest at the party when he became involved in a fight involving partygoers and gatecrashers in a car park behind the house in North Balwyn, in Melbourne's east.

Justin, from the north-eastern suburb of Fairfield, had been on life support in Royal Melbourne Hospital after he failed to wake up at home on Saturday morning.

He died about 4.30pm (AEDT) Sunday, police said.

Detective Sergeant Graham Guy said the boy was one of about 15 people involved in a fight about 11.30pm (AEDT) on Friday.

He was knocked out by a punch but later regained consciousness and was driven home by a friend.

However, his parents were unable to rouse him the following morning and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Outside the hospital, his sister Siobhan Galligan spoke of her love for her brother.

"He looked after me so much and he always made people happy," she told journalists.

His aunt, Kathy Neagle-Haupt, described Justin's death as "an absolute tragedy for the family".

"Justin was a beautiful boy who has lived his short 16 years to the full," she said.

Police have appealed to any of the 50 revellers at the party they had not interviewed to come forward.

"It's an absolute tragedy," Det Sgt Guy said.

He said a number of people were helping police with their inquiries.