Two pupils help gardaí with inquiries after smoke bomb set off in school

Two pupils are helping gardaí with their inquiries after 60 students and teachers had to be treated for breathing difficulties when a smoke bomb was set off in a Co Cork school.

The device was set off in a packed school canteen at lunchtime and choking children and teachers were assessed by medical experts in a nearby gymnasium.

A Garda spokesman confirmed last night that two pupils were helping with their inquiries and that gardaí had also established where the device had originated.

It was set off at 1.30pm at Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal.

School principal Séamus Ó Ceallacháin said the school was “quickly evacuated as per standard protocol and as a precautionary measure the emergency services were alerted”.

The principal added that “a number of people who might have asthma conditions were checked out and thankfully nobody was injured”.

Off-duty paramedics from Youghal and Midleton rushed to the scene, along with voluntary members of the East Cork and West Cork Rapid Response units. They were able to assess and treat people at the scene, the vast majority of whom were students.

The principal apologised to parents and students for the “huge inconvenience,” and added that he expected the facility to re-open as normal on Tuesday.

The incident was of unprecedented scale at the 850-pupil school, which is in the Frogmore area overlooking the town and close to the Youghal bypass.

The school was opened in 2006 in a move that amalgamated the town’s CSB and Loreto Convent establishments.

It caters for 850 students and employs 65 teachers.