Video from school rugby trip investigated by police

A police investigation followed by a Rugby trip to Portugal by Methodist College Belfast The focus is reported to be on the video.

The PSNI has confirmed that it spoke to the school and investigated the matter, but no further action was taken.

BBC News NI has also learned that the Methodist Church and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) were asked to look into the rugby trip.

A former Methodist College pupil, Gabriel McConkey, was awarded more than £50,000 in a civil case last week In view of the training camp in Portugal.

The school said it took disciplinary action and contacted police following a complaint following the trip.

The family of Mr McConkey, now 19, say he was left “traumatized” after he recorded the “humiliating” video on the trip in December 2022.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received a report on 24 January 2023 of a video being circulated among members of the school population.

“Neighborhood officers worked with the school and provided appropriate guidance and support. An investigation was conducted following receipt of this report.

“No further police action was taken.”

Mr McConkey was 17 and in the lower sixth when it is alleged that older pupils forced him and others to run naked around the resort they were staying at.

It is their case that they then used a video to show him getting his head shaved.

It is also his case that he was forced to watch other boys as he was forced to perform an act on a sex toy.

In the wake of the court case, BBC News NI contacted the Methodist Church and the IRFU.

The church said it was “made aware of the family’s concerns” and had met with representatives of Methody.

A spokesperson said that a “serious incident report had been submitted”.

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, the Education Minister said it was “unacceptable that this happened”.

Paul Given also described it as a “terrible incident” and said it was a “very sorry state of affairs”.

“We would look for assurances from any schools involved, in incidents like this, that appropriate measures are being implemented so that this is not repeated,” Givhan said.

Given said he has “no doubt” that the school takes this seriously.

The IRFU is the governing body for rugby on the island of Ireland, covering four provinces including Ulster.

A spokesperson said: “The IRFU was made aware of an alleged incident on a school trip abroad. As this was not an IRFU incident, we referred the matter to the relevant authorities to investigate.”

Methodist College said It contacted the police and disciplinary action was taken But did not elaborate on the details.

A spokesperson for the school said: “A claim for compensation was brought by Mr McConkey and settled with the school’s insurers.

“The fact that these incidents occurred during downtime after training sessions and during sleeping hours prompted the school to review and improve its supervision procedures.

“Updated supervision processes have taken place in the two years since these incidents occurred and to the school’s knowledge there have been no recurrences of such incidents.”

The person in charge of the 2022 trip is still involved in rugby at the school.

The Methodist College says pastoral support was provided during and after the trip.

After the civil case was settled on Wednesday, Mr McConkey’s mother, Sian Mawhinney, told BBC News Nye that her son was “absolutely devastated” when he returned from a trip two years ago.

In a statement, Ulster Rugby, which runs the annual Schools’ Cup competition, said: “What has been reported does not align with the values ​​of rugby, or with the behavior we expect from those involved in the game. We do.”