Children counselled in Mayo after classmate found dead

Children are being counselled today after one of their classmates was found dead in their school grounds.

Prayers were also being said for the family of the 15-year-old boy whose body was discovered at Rice College in Westport, Co Mayo.

Investigating officers do not suspect any foul play in the death.

Frank McCarrick, recently retired principal of Rice College, acting as school spokesman, said everybody at the school was devastated.

“The school and the board of management and the staff and the students are deeply shocked by what happened,” he said.

“We extend our sympathies to the parents and to the family and the friends of the boy.”

Counsellors from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) were called into the boys-only school following the discovery shortly after 8am this morning.

The third year pupil – who was due to sit his junior certificate exams later this year – was found by gardai during an early morning search after his parents reported him missing last night.

The body was removed to Mayo General Hospital for a post mortem examination.

Mr McCarrick said the 450-pupil Christian Brothers voluntary secondary school was holding a prayer service for the boy.