Pupils escape injury as part of ceiling collapses in class

Plasterboard falls on desks in Co Down’s Killyleagh Primary School as 25 pupils present

A section of plasterboard-type ceiling fell on to desks in Killyleagh Primary School in Co Down on Thursday morning. File photograph: Google Street View
A section of plasterboard-type ceiling fell on to desks in Killyleagh Primary School in Co Down on Thursday morning. File photograph: Google Street View

Primary school pupils have escaped injury after part of their classroom ceiling came crashing down during a lesson.

A section of the plasterboard-type ceiling fell on to desks inside Killyleagh Primary School in Killyleagh, Co Down while around 25 Primary 4 (second class in Republic) and Primary 5 (third class) pupils were being taught on Thursday morning.

The incident was caused by a build-up of water from a leaking pipe in the ceiling.

None of the children were directly struck by the falling debris, even though some landed on the desks they were working at.

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Principal Jason Milligan said he was thankful no-one was injured.

“The children were pretty shaken up,” he said.

“We were able to bring them down to a spare classroom and settle them, and normal lessons resumed.

“We are just thankful no-one was injured.”

It is understood the leaking pipe was reported to education authorities a number of weeks ago.

Press Association