GARDAI in Galway have started an investigation into a "ritual" among pupils that went badly wrong at a secondary school in the city. Six pupils have been expelled after one student suffered a suspected broken finger and three others were injured.
The injuries, which occurred at St Mary's College last week and involved more than 20 students, resulted during an annual ritual of Leaving Cert students "sorting out fourth years".
A senior Garda spokesman at Mill Street station said a formal complaint had been made about the alleged incidents and an investigation was in progress. The incident involved boarders at the school and took place on the night of January 13th. A number of students has been interviewed by gardai.
"We have been consulted by the president of St Mary's College concerning what took place involving boarding students who sustained physical injuries," the Garda spokesman said. "A formal complaint has been made to the gardai. At this stage the investigation is trying to establish whether events were of a criminal nature or not.
The college president, Father Peter Rabbitte, who indicated at, the weekend that "a full inquiry" was under way, was not available for comment yesterday.
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