Irish tourists make complaint against Canary Island police

A group of young Irish tourists have lodged an official complaint alleging they were assaulted by police on the Canary Islands after the tragic drowning of their friend.

Michael Clancy, 19, was found lying on the bottom of a swimming pool at an apartment complex in Playa Del Ingles on Sunday.

Police on the island said that 10 teenagers, who had been drinking heavily, descended on the swimming pool.

Some are alleged to have prevented paramedics from attending to the victim and attacking police at the scene.

But the teenagers have said that is not the full story and four of the 10 have now complained at the National Police Station in nearby Maspalomas.

The group took a bilingual lawyer with them to make sure their claims that the police overreacted were fully understood.

The group have said that a close friend of the victim tried to get past police to touch the body when the police struck out.

The official complaint will now be investigated, but it could take months.

Seven of the teenagers are cutting their holiday short and coming to home to Dublin today.

Two others are staying on to accompany the body of their friend home when a local judge gives permission.