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07/06/2002
School to close over concerns for safety of pupils
A grammar school in Strabane is to close next Tuesday for Ireland’s next World Cup game over fears that its pupils may again come under attack from football supporters.
On Tuesday, June 11, the Irish team play Saudi Arabia and the school principal said he had told parents not to send children from Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 to school next Tuesday.
The direction from the grammar’s principal Mr Lacey came following an incident when Ireland played Germany on Wednesday.
According to UUP assembly member for the area Derek Hussey the bus came under attack in the middle of the afternoon from people of all ages wearing Ireland colours and carrying tricolours.
One window was smashed on the bus after a missile was thrown and although no one was injured, Mr Hussey said the pupils on board were traumatised and upset.
Mr Hussey also said concerned parents had contacted him to tell him that pupils who had alighted from the bus in Abercorn Square and made their way to a telephone box to call their parents for a lift home had been traumatised by three adults who wrapped the kiosk in a tricolour while the children were inside.
Mr. Lacey says he has taken the drastic measure in an effort to avoid the possibility of a repeat attack. He has advised that pupils in Years 12, 13 and 14, already on study leave, who may have exams on Tuesday to have parents or friends collect them from school at the end of the tests.
He has also advised the pupils not to wear their uniform in order to avoid them being singled out.
Speaking today Mr Hussey said it was appalling that children should have been subjected to a barrage of abuse.
“I have contacted the Football Association of Ireland to intervene by issuing a statement calling on these so-called football supporters to desist from their actions which only bring the good name of thousands of well behaved fans into disrepute.
“I fully agree with the school that the safety of pupils is paramount and it is deplorable that such measures need to be enacted to ensure their safety because of a football match.”
(AMcE)
On Tuesday, June 11, the Irish team play Saudi Arabia and the school principal said he had told parents not to send children from Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 to school next Tuesday.
The direction from the grammar’s principal Mr Lacey came following an incident when Ireland played Germany on Wednesday.
According to UUP assembly member for the area Derek Hussey the bus came under attack in the middle of the afternoon from people of all ages wearing Ireland colours and carrying tricolours.
One window was smashed on the bus after a missile was thrown and although no one was injured, Mr Hussey said the pupils on board were traumatised and upset.
Mr Hussey also said concerned parents had contacted him to tell him that pupils who had alighted from the bus in Abercorn Square and made their way to a telephone box to call their parents for a lift home had been traumatised by three adults who wrapped the kiosk in a tricolour while the children were inside.
Mr. Lacey says he has taken the drastic measure in an effort to avoid the possibility of a repeat attack. He has advised that pupils in Years 12, 13 and 14, already on study leave, who may have exams on Tuesday to have parents or friends collect them from school at the end of the tests.
He has also advised the pupils not to wear their uniform in order to avoid them being singled out.
Speaking today Mr Hussey said it was appalling that children should have been subjected to a barrage of abuse.
“I have contacted the Football Association of Ireland to intervene by issuing a statement calling on these so-called football supporters to desist from their actions which only bring the good name of thousands of well behaved fans into disrepute.
“I fully agree with the school that the safety of pupils is paramount and it is deplorable that such measures need to be enacted to ensure their safety because of a football match.”
(AMcE)
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