Schoolgirl was shot in the face with a pellet gun

Gardaí are investigating an incident where a student was shot in the face with a pellet gun that was discharged outside a school in Co Clare.

A teenage boy has been interviewed in relation to the incident, which happened close to St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla on Friday afternoon.

Gardaí have said the incident could have been “far more serious as the pellet hit the girl close to her eye”. The injured student did not require hospital treatment but visited a GP.

It’s understood that a car with three teenagers was driving past the school, after school hours on Friday, and that a pellet gun was produced.

It’s believed the firearm was pointed in the direction of a small group of students. It’s not clear whether the car stopped or if the firearm was discharged as it drove past.

The driver of the vehicle is believed to have left the scene while the pupil’s parents and gardaí were alerted to the incident.

A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí were notified of the incident which happened after school hours. All those involved are juveniles and students of the school. The pellet gun was discharged in the direction of a group of students and one was hit by a single pellet.”

“The pellet struck a girl very close to her eye. We have interviewed the alleged offender, a juvenile, in the presence of his parents and that matter will be dealt with by our juvenile liaison officer.”

Gardaí say that they are continuing to investigate the matter and have warned of the dangers of pellet guns and the potential damage they can cause.

“This could have been far more serious,” the Garda spokesman said.