Gardaí interview schoolboys over alleged assault on girl
The mother of the victim has welcomed a decision to indefinitely suspend the boys involved in the alleged assault. The girl at the centre of the incident at St Jarlath’s Vocational School in the town, has said she was grabbed from behind by a number of boys while in the yard on lunch break.
It is alleged she had her hands and ankles tied up and her mouth stuffed with a scarf while the boys also tried to pull down her pants, she said, during an ordeal that lasted up to 15 minutes. It is also alleged up to five boys were involved in the incident, with one boy recording it on his mobile phone. The girl’s mother said she hoped the footage would not find its way onto the internet.
A criminal investigation has been launched by gardaí. It is understood the allegations regarding the girl’s pants and her mouth being gagged are being strenuously denied. A source in Mountbellew said yesterday a lot of what had been aired in the media regarding the schoolyard incident was “complete rubbish”.
The school’s board of management decided at an emergency meeting on Monday night to indefinitely suspend “a number of boys” alleged to have been involved, until the Garda investigation is complete.
It is understood those at the centre of the allegations have already made statements to the gardaí, while further inquiries were made yesterday at St Jarlath’s and about 15 witnesses were interviewed. The mother of the 16-year-old told RTÉ’s Gerry Ryan Show yesterday that her daughter was still traumatised by what happened. “She had a very bad nightmare last night,” said Mary. “But she’s talking to me now. Since we heard this [the board’s decision] last night, she’s able to talk better today.”
St Jarlath’s Vocational School principal Mattie Kilroy said the staff and board of management of the school were “co-operating fully” with the Garda investigation.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
