Garda inquiry after girl, 15, tied up by boy gang in school yard

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was allegedly grabbed by up to five boys, tied up, gagged and blindfolded in a schoolyard.

A number of the boys at the Galway school were suspended for three days, with an emergency board of management meeting held last night to investigate the matter. However, it has emerged that the Department of Education has no guidelines in place for schools faced with disciplinary problems, with boards of management expected to set their own rules regarding bullying and suspensions.

A Garda criminal investigation was launched following events last Friday at St Jarlath’s Vocational School in Mountbellew. However, the media storm surrounding the incident has caused anger around Mountbellew, with one source describing it as being “blown out of all proportion”.