EIGHT TEENAGE students at an Irish language college in west Donegal had to receive medical attention on Tuesday night following a serious assault.
It is understood the students, all from Northern Ireland, were assaulted by a gang of youths wielding hurleys just after evening classes ended at Coláiste Mhuire, Loch an Iúir in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
This is the same college that was forced to close for a week last year following a swine flu outbreak.
The eight students received head injuries in what has been described as a “vicious attack” and were treated by the out-of-hours NowDoc GP service.
One student received several stitches to his head. Gardaí have launched a major investigation and are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.
Six gardaí were drafted in to the village yesterday to investigate the incident.
Just under 300 students, aged between 16 and 17 years, are attending the three-week Irish language course at the Donegal Gaeltacht college.
Principal Wayne Pickering said this was a serious incident and that the parents of the injured children had been notified.
“There have been incidents in the past but it has gone to a new level now, with weapons being used and students seriously assaulted.
“We are worried for our students but are doing what we can,” he said.
Mr Pickering said parents paid good money for their children to come to the Gaeltacht and despite the assaults the students involved were determined to complete the course which is due to end on August 20th.
“We have spoken to the parents of the students involved and they are obviously annoyed,” he said.
It is understood that gardaí escorted students to their places of accommodation on Tuesday night following the attack.
Coláiste Loch an Iúir was one of few Irish language colleges in Donegal that had an increase in student numbers this year. However locals fear that incidents like this could affect its future.