Students assaulted at boarding college

A BOARDING student was badly assaulted when a group of men broke into a Co Limerick agricultural college late at night.

The attack at the Salesian College in Pallaskenry — which is also a secondary day school — happened earlier this week but only came to light yesterday.

Some of the 80 boarding students were woken up when intruders went on the rampage, banging on doors and breaking furniture.

One student, 18, was treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital for his injuries. After the victim opened the door of his bedroom, he was set upon, punched and head-butted.

Some other students were also attacked.

Gardaí were called by a night watchman, and on arrival at the scene, all but one of the intruders had left the scene.

One man, who lives in the Pallaskenry area, was arrested and a second man, who also resides in the area, was subsequently arrested.

Both are expected to be brought to court in coming days.

The student who was head-butted comes from the Kilgarvan area of Co Kerry. He was treated for a suspected broken nose and allowed back to the college after hospital treatment.

John McCarthy, principal of the college said it was a very serious incident and nothing like this had ever occurred previously.

“It was a very serious matter. We have night security at the college and when the break-in was discovered, the gardaí were immediately alerted.”

Local sources in Pallaskenry said the two men arrested are in their 20s and are well known locally.