Gaeltacht Students Attacked By Gang

Students at a Donegal Gaeltacht are receiving medical treatment after being assaulted by a gang wielding hurley sticks.

Gardaí are today appealing for information from the public in connection with the assault, which occured on Tuesday evening.

Eight teenage students at Coláiste Mhuire in the Loch an Iúir area had to receive medical attention following the attack.

The students, who are all from Northern Ireland, were assaulted by a gang of youths on their way back to their accommodation after a football match in Loch an Iúir.

According to witnesses, at around 5pm two cars approached the group of students as they walked back to their accommodation along the road. One car overtook the group blocking one end of the road and another car boxed the group in. A large group of young men then alighted from the vehicles and attacked the group with hurley sticks.

One of the students received several stitches to his head in what gardaí described as a vicious attack. Many of the students have been left very distressed by the attack, and no obvious motive has yet emerged.

Gardaí have now identified most of those involved in the incident.

Just under 300 students are attending the three week Irish language course at the Donegal college. The course commenced last Thursday and is due to continue until 20 August.

Coláiste Mhuire Principal Wayne Pickering said it was a serious incident and that the parents of the injured students had been notified.

It is understood that all eight students will finish the course in Loch An Iúir.

(DW)