News at One NI school suspends 19 boys for 'disruptive and disrespectful behaviour'
Jan 16, 2026
Vincent Kearney, the Northern editor for RTÉ, dives into a shocking incident at a Co Antrim school where 19 Year 11 boys were suspended for disruptive behavior. He provides insights into the principal's alarming email detailing intimidating actions towards staff. The ripple effect is significant, with substitute teachers refusing to teach and female staff feeling deeply affected. The school is now focusing on workshops aimed at tackling toxic masculinity and is committed to working with students and parents to improve the situation.
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Mass Suspension Of Year 11 Boys
- Laurel Hill Community College suspended 19 Year 11 boys on the same day for disruptive, intimidating behaviour.
- Vincent Kearney said this cluster suspension is unusual given typical daily suspensions across Northern Ireland.
Scale Puts Incident Into Context
- Suspensions happen daily but the concentration of 19 pupils at once makes this case notable.
- Kearney highlights that over 5,000 pupils were suspended across Northern Ireland last year, giving context to scale.
Staff Were Intimidated And Distressed
- The principal reported substitute teachers refused to teach and female staff left because they were upset by pupils' behaviour.
- She described 15 pupils surrounding her outside her office and being disruptive during assembly.