A boy is understood to have suffered 'serious injuries' after a police officer allegedly kicked him in the head while he was being pinned to the ground.
The incident, outside a nightclub in Cookstown, Co Tyrone in the early hours of Sunday, has sparked a Police Ombudsman probe with the PSNI referring the incident to the watchdog.
A solicitor representing the 16-year-old has called for the officer's "immediate suspension" and a criminal investigation to be launched.
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Video of the incident has emerged online and appears to show an officer swing his foot towards the boy's head while he was being pinned to the ground by another PSNI officer.
The youngster can be seen clutching his hands to his head following the incident outside the Cookstown venue. Two sources have confirmed he did not see a doctor while being held in custody on suspicion of assaulting police.
One of the teenager's family members said: "We are lucky as a family not to be planning a funeral as we have seen in the past how severe a kick to the head or one punch can be."
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman confirmed they have "received a complaint, which we will be investigating... the Office was also notified of the matter by the PSNI".
Gavin Booth from Phoenix Law is representing the boy and said he and his friend had been thrown out of a Cookstown nightclub and were shouting in the street when police approached them.
He told Belfast Live: "We are calling for the officer to be immediately suspended from duties - there are no circumstances that he should be allowed near the general public. We say his actions are not only dangerous but fall far beyond the standard that we expect from any officer."
Mr Booth added that his client "is a child" and that "no parent who allows their child to go out would expect the police to treat anyone in such a vile manner".
"The case immediately warrants a criminal investigation into the action of this officer who struck our client's head, whilst he was being detained by another officer."
A PSNI spokesperson said: "A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of three counts of assault on police, following a disturbance in Cookstown in the early hours of Sunday, 8th December.
"The disturbance occurred after patrol officers stopped to assist an injured man in the James Street area. The boy was later released on bail to allow for further enquiries.
"The Police Service of Northern Ireland have notified the Office of the Police Ombudsman of this incident and as such it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
We understand no officers have been removed from duty in relation to the incident.
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