Gang brought metal bars to attack student

A GANG of schoolchildren armed with metal bars travelled from Dublin to Meath by bus to attack a junior certificate student because of a tiff over a girlfriend, it has emerged.

Gardaí confirmed yesterday several youths wielding metal weapons were arrested after waiting for a pupil from a school in Dunboyne.

The incident has shocked the local community as well as school representatives.

Parents collecting children became concerned on October 9, when the gang, mainly aged 15 and 16, were spotted with iron bars near the grounds of St Peter’s College after class hours.

Gardaí confronted the youths, who are believed to have travelled from Blanchardstown. It was reported they had chased local students who had finished for the day. Arrests were made following the incident, which occurred near the Millfarm housing estate. The vendetta is believed to have been sparked after the young Meath student made comments about one of the Dublin youths’ girlfriends.

Last week’s incident led to fears of an escalation of violence in the village and a repeat of last year’s Hallowe’en brawl when gardaí seized weapons from teenagers.

Local councillor Noel Leonard, who is also on the school’s board of management, said there was a worry for some youngsters in the area.

“We are concerned for the safety of pupils. It has a great success rate for students doing exams but there is a need for more policing on the ground. It’s frightening to think these youths came down here with bars and weapons. It’s a Hallowe’en thing and raised its ugly head last year.”

He said the recent converging of youths outside St Peters College would be raised at the next management board meeting.

Gardaí yesterday said parents of the arrested youths had since reported to Dunboyne where an apology was made about the incident.

The school’s deputy vice principal Maureen Murray said: “It didn’t happen on our grounds. The gardaí handled it very well.

“We were very shocked about the whole thing. It was absolutely extraordinary. But there will be no need to change security issues and parents are very confident about safety here.”