NINE youths and a 18-year-old have been charged in connection with an alleged attack in Sherdley Park that left a young man fighting for his life earlier this year.

The ten, who had been on police bail after being arrested in the days after Craig Rooney, aged 18 and from Widnes, suffered serious injuries, were charged yesterday.

The eldest of the ten, James Michael Ellison, from North Road, St Helens, has been charged with a section 18 wounding and with two offences of violent disorder relating to the incident at the park on Thursday, May 22.

He appeared before St Helens Magistrates' Court on Monday afternoon and was remanded in custody until a further court appearance.

Detectives also charged five boys and four girls, aged betweem 16 and 17, with the section 18 assault. They will also face offences of violent disorder.

Police add that the youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been bailed to appear before St Helens Magistrates' Court on Thursday, September 18.

Craig Rooney, who needed emergency brain surgery and was in intensive care for several weeks, continues to receive extensive treatment for his injuries.

Detective Inspector Ged Seddon, of St Helens CID, who is leading the investigation said: “During the past three and a half months, Merseyside Police has conducted investigations into the aforementioned incident, using a dedicated team of detectives based within a major incident room at St Helens.

“As a result of those protracted enquiries, ten individuals have been charged with a series of violent offences.”