Castlebar teen’s bullying terror

Castlebar teen’s bullying terror


Student says twins threatened to stab him at school gates

Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

A student at Davitt College in Castlebar is allegedly being so intimidated by twin brothers that he can’t sleep at night.
The horrifying ordeal suffered by the teenager was outlined by Independent Cllr Michael Kilcoyne at yesterday’s (Monday) meeting of the Castlebar Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
Cllr Kilcoyne explained that the youth’s father informed him that his son was being continuously intimidated by a pair of teenage twins, who wait outside the school gates to bully and assault him. The twins have allegedly threatened to stab the victim, and the boy’s father now has to collect and drop off his son at the school door.
Cllr Kilcoyne stated that before the meeting  he received a phone call from the father, who explained that the twins would wait outside the school, on either side the gates, to intimidate his son.
A letter written by the boy’s GP was read out to the JPC members, which stated that the child is upset and unable to sleep. He also refuses medication to help him, because he ‘feels he needs to be on guard at all times’. The doctor also called for the local authority to deal with the matter.
“The twins were at the school with one on each side of the footpath … They are causing a major problem to this child. It is an awful situation, he is afraid to sleep in his own home. We have to do something about it, it can’t carry on like this,” Cllr Kilcoyne said.
The victim’s account of the bullying has been supported by his school’s vice principal Gerry King in a letter that was read out at the JPC meeting.

Random attacks
The twins are known around the Castlebar area. In the past they have been linked with anti-social behaviour and are believed to have carried out random attacks on young people where money and mobile phones were taken.
Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Brendan Henaghan, claimed the town was being held to ransom by the pair, while Cllr Frank Durcan said that in the past such blackguards would get the ‘leather injection’ and it would soon stop it.
Garda patrols have been in operation around Davitt College in recent months. According to Cllr Thérèse Ruane, parents say the situation has improved but has not gone away. She was supported by Cllr Ger Deere, who said that the patrols have improved the situation by 80 per cent since the issue was first raised, but the authorities had to keep ‘on top of things’.
Inspector Joe McKenna stated that he had to be careful what he said, but added that there were a number of incidents to come before the court and the matters were sub judice. He said he was glad to hear the patrols were working, and emphasised that any incidents reported to the gardaí would be investigated.

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