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Irish Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘People don't care that much': Frustrated sighs audible as students asked the ‘British or Irish' question
The students of Northern Ireland 's first integrated school, Lagan College in Belfast , visibly shudder when faced with a question about identity late in a conversation about the future they seek. 'How many of you would describe yourselves as Irish, and how many would describe yourselves as British?' they are asked. The sighs of frustration roll forward from the back of the P13 AS Government & Politics class. 'We get annoyed at the question because it's quite stereotypical. I would consider myself Irish, but I wouldn't exactly take issue with anybody else saying otherwise,' one student says. READ MORE 'Slowly over time, especially among our generation, it's becoming less of a problem. People don't care that much. It depends on your background, but most don't really care where you're from, don't really care what your identity is,' says another. Contrary to the image offered by this month's anti-immigration riots in Ballymena and elsewhere, the question, however, highlights changing attitudes among swathes of Northern Ireland's youth. For them, if not for everyone, identities of all kinds are fluid, important enough to be respected, or not important enough to fight over, even if many come from still-segregated communities. Facing often vicious opposition, Lagan was set up in September 1981 during some of the darkest days of the Troubles by Catholic and Protestant parents, who wanted their children to learn together. A total of 28 children came on the first day – 14 Catholic, 14 Protestant. Today, Lagan has grown to 1,460 pupils, with 200 new arrivals each year on a campus beside Gregagh Glen – one of 71 integrated schools in Northern Ireland. It's a warts-and-all approach, we don't stifle debate within the classroom. Everybody has an opinion, and they're all entitled to it, as long as they express it respectfully — Fergal McGuckin On a Tuesday afternoon, the P13 class and their teacher, Fergal McGuckin, interrupt class to talk about the lessons students have learned from going to Lagan, and their lives outside. Student Cillian Connolly has no doubts about the benefits. 'I have friends here from obviously Protestant backgrounds, from Catholic backgrounds, and Muslim backgrounds and everything else. 'In our group, no one would even know what you are, or care. I've been here for four years and I didn't even know if my mates were Protestant or Catholic half of the time,' he tells The Irish Times. Lagan College history teacher, Fergal McGuckin However, Northern Ireland's changing face is evident elsewhere, too, he asserts, citing the belief of friends in denominational schools who often, nevertheless, think that their own school is integrated. 'They'll say, 'There's loads of Catholics in our school.' So, they think it is integrated because of the numbers of other faiths, even though it isn't integrated, as such. That's kind of good, really, that they would think like that, it's unofficial integration.' Outside the classroom, however, students are still often badged by their first, or second names, or where they live: 'Sometimes, someone will say, 'Oh, you can just tell you're a Catholic,'' he says. Later generations will find the debate about integrated education puzzling, he believes. 'Our grandkids will look back and think, 'Wait, there were Catholic schools and Protestant schools? That's so odd.' Lagan College, Belfast, was set up in September 1981 during some of the darkest days of the Troubles. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire 'It's like us looking back and thinking that it was completely mad that there were separate toilets for black and white people in the United States. They'll think that it was all completely mad,' he says. Just eight per cent of Northern Ireland's students go to integrated schools, even though, depending on the poll, nearly 80 per cent of parents say that they want more such schools. 'However, none of the 8 per cent of places that we have were established by the government, or by government planning,' says Paul Caskey, chief executive of the Integrated Education Fund charity. The Irish language is studied by all first-year Lagan students. Dubbed 'enrichment Irish', it shows where it 'has come from and (explains) the significance it has, in place names, etc', says principal, Amanda McNamee. Sixteen years in post, principal of Lagan Colllege, Amanda McNamee. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The numbers studying fall away in later years, she says: between six and 12 students take GCSE Irish examinations, while an A-Level option was dropped because it did not have enough demand. Students usually study three A-level subjects, so choices must narrow: 'And it is a difficult language, and I say that as an English teacher; it's not easy,' McNamee says. However, the first-year experience leaves its mark: 'The children love the songs, the cultural side. Some, though, find it difficult to pick up – from all different ability levels,' she says. Most of the P13 students are interested in some political issues, but have little interest in politicians – and very little, it has to be said, in the workings of the Stormont Assembly and Executive. Connolly's classmate, Francesca Keenan, voices an unhappiness shared by others: 'They're not really helping the majority of ordinary people. Even though they seem to have differing ideas of what should go on, they're really serving their own interests.' For the last 16 years, the English-accented Amanda McNamee, born in England to Irish parents, has led the school in a career honoured by an MBE from Queen Elizabeth, one that began in Omagh before the Real IRA bombing . [ End of segregation in Northern Ireland is a long way off, report finds Opens in new window ] Shortly after 3pm on August 15th, 1998, McNamee, then newly married, was preparing with her husband to pick up a new kitchen in a shop near the courthouse in the bustling Co Tyrone town. Nearing Omagh, she changed her mind: 'We'd been out the night before. I said to Adrian, 'Oh, we're tired and jaded. Let's go home,'' she says. A few minutes later, the bomb exploded, killing 29. Life's journey can be decided by a turn of the wheel. Today, McNamee's passion for the social value of integrated education, fuelled by her time in Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh, is evident. Lagan has a clear code based on the Christian principles of equality, service, reconciliation and respect, she says, 'where everyone is expected to be exposed to, and to respect, the beliefs of others'. Students gathered to consider the legacies of the queen and Pope Francis when they died 'because for many people in our school they were important parts of their lives' she says. 'If it's important to some of us, it needs to be respected by all of us, so it's not that someone can opt out of such an assembly because they don't recognise the queen, or the Pope – they can't,' she says. Years ago, Lagan students' uniforms marked them out, though such problems have faded. However, students coming from still-divided communities are often regarded locally as 'different'. 'Sometimes, you'll hear other people say things that you just haven't been exposed to here, because it's so normalised for me to be with people of other religions and stuff,' says one student. Coming to Lagan was 'like night and day' compared to elsewhere, another student says, 'the way people treat one another, attitudes to language and stuff, you get none of that hate'. Lagan's students are well versed in the Troubles throughout their school years, says McGuckin, right up to the end: 'So, they're probably sick of it by then. 'It's a warts-and-all approach, we don't stifle debate within the classroom. Everybody has an opinion, and they're all entitled to it, as long as they express it respectfully.' 'Students learn to be comfortable in their own skin, about being a nationalist or a unionist, or whatever.' The bonds made in Lagan last. 'Friendships made here endure. It's like a badge of honour,' he says.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Neil Beckett: Challenge to abuser's prison term fails
A legal challenge to the prison term imposed on a former school welfare officer and army cadet leader for sexually abusing teenage girls has in the Court of Appeal rejected claims the sentencing of Neil Beckett was unduly 44, from Kilmore Village near Crossgar, was found guilty of sexual assault and inappropriate contact with nine teenage victims he targeted while holding a position of December, he received a three year sentence at Belfast Crown Court, with 18 months to be served in prison and 18 months on licence. The charges against him related to seven pupils at Lagan College School in south Belfast and two army cadets, spanning an eight-year period between 2015 and 2023.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
School didn't do enough to stop abuse, say jailed welfare officer's victims
Victims of a former school welfare officer who was convicted of sexual assault have told BBC News NI their school did not do enough to prevent the abuse. Neil Beckett groomed the schoolgirls and used his position as a welfare officer at Lagan College in Belfast to access vulnerable young women. He was found guilty on 17 counts and jailed in December. In a statement, Lagan College told the BBC: "We pay tribute to the bravery of those pupils who came forward and we assure you that the school acted properly and promptly and in accordance with Lagan College's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which adheres to Department of Education guidance, at all times." Two young women, who have spoken to BBC News NI anonymously, and the parents of some of the victims believe the school wasted crucial opportunities to safeguard pupils from harm. Beckett joined Lagan College in 2021. In late 2022, allegations were made against him by two pupils. A pupil said Beckett hugged her and kissed her on the cheek, another said he had given her a hug under her blazer. The principal, Amanda McNamee, gave evidence during the trial and said the school safeguarding team was involved and that she took Beckett through the school's safeguarding policy and his job description "line by line". Mrs McNamee told the court that the parents involved were content with the school's actions. Beckett then continued in his role as before and within a few months, in early 2023, further allegations were brought to Mrs McNamee and a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigation began. Jane and Ann, not their real names, spoke to The State of Us podcast about their experiences. "There was a grooming pattern of trying to befriend people, he didn't portray himself as a teacher. he portrayed himself as a friend," Jane said. "He wanted to get close to you. He wanted you to let your guard down, and he used that." Ann said: "He was unnervingly charismatic. Now that I look back he just had a way of talking to you that made you feel like you could tell him anything." She said he had different ways of physically abusing his victims. "I have a lot of sensory issues and he'd tickled me, and I felt really, really weird about it." Both Ann and Jane said the majority of the abuse they suffered at Beckett's hand happened after the initial allegations against him in October 2022. "That just felt like a bit of a kick in the teeth that they knew about this," Jane said. "There'd been allegations made before it had happened to us. "The fact that the school didn't do enough to prevent it then is ridiculous." Ann said: "They could have prevented this, they could have stopped it there in October and we wouldn't have faced as much abuse as we did, but they didn't. "I don't think that's how a school should handle themselves." Both Jane and Ann, and several parents of Beckett's victims, have told BBC News NI that the school failed in terms of safeguarding, but also in terms of support and care for pupils. One mother said the priority for Lagan College "was managing their public image, not looking after the girls who had been harmed". Another parent said the school showed an "aloofness and detachment" when dealing with the harm done to his daughter. A third parent claimed the school had taken "no responsibility and wishes to pretend this didn't happen". Both Jane and Ann said they recalled a school assembly at the time of the police investigation. They said: "We were all taken into the hall. And Mrs McNamee headed the assembly. She told us that people are innocent until proven guilty. "That, this is a member of staff and we should not be talking about it. "We can't talk to the support staff about it, we can't talk to our friends about it. "We are not allowed to mention it at all in school." They said the reason given for this was "in case they had to be on the stand in the future". Jane said her mum received an email from the school's board of governors. "It was something along the lines of: 'As your daughter is no longer in school anymore, there's nothing, basically, we can do to help.'" She added they would like an acknowledgment of the hurt caused. "An apology would be nice. But they're not going to do that." In a statement, Lagan College told BBC News NI: "The safety and wellbeing of all our pupils has at all times been, remains, and will always be Lagan College's highest priority. "Mr Beckett had worked in a school environment prior to joining Lagan College, and received a clear Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from Access NI, and had appropriate references for his position. "We are unable to comment any further at this stage to ensure that we do not prejudice legal action." You can listen to this story in full on The State Of Us later today. Click here to subscribe and listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds every Tuesday and Thursday. Ex-school welfare officer jailed for sexual assaults The State of Us
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Lagan College: Neil Beckett victims say school did not do enough
Victims of a former school welfare officer who was convicted of sexual assault have told BBC News NI their school did not do enough to prevent the Beckett groomed the schoolgirls and used his position as a welfare officer at Lagan College in Belfast to access vulnerable young was found guilty on 17 counts in a statement, Lagan College told the BBC: "We pay tribute to the bravery of those pupils who came forward and we assure you that the school acted properly and promptly and in accordance with Lagan College's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which adheres to Department of Education guidance, at all times." Two young women, who have spoken to BBC News NI anonymously, and the parents of some of the victims believe the school wasted crucial opportunities to safeguard pupils from joined Lagan College in late 2022, allegations were made against him by two pupils.A pupil said Beckett hugged her and kissed her on the cheek, another said he had given her a hug under her principal, Amanda McNamee, gave evidence during the trial and said the school safeguarding team was involved and that she took Beckett through the school's safeguarding policy and his job description "line by line".Mrs McNamee told the court that the parents involved were content with the school's then continued in his role as before and within a few months, in early 2023, further allegations were brought to Mrs McNamee and a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigation began. 'A kick in the teeth' Jane and Ann, not their real names, spoke to The State of Us podcast about their experiences."There was a grooming pattern of trying to befriend people, he didn't portray himself as a teacher. he portrayed himself as a friend," Jane said."He wanted to get close to you. He wanted you to let your guard down, and he used that."Ann said: "He was unnervingly charismatic. Now that I look back he just had a way of talking to you that made you feel like you could tell him anything."She said he had different ways of physically abusing his victims. "I have a lot of sensory issues and he'd tickled me, and I felt really, really weird about it." Both Ann and Jane said the majority of the abuse they suffered at Beckett's hand happened after the initial allegations against him in October 2022."That just felt like a bit of a kick in the teeth that they knew about this," Jane said."There'd been allegations made before it had happened to us. "The fact that the school didn't do enough to prevent it then is ridiculous."Ann said: "They could have prevented this, they could have stopped it there in October and we wouldn't have faced as much abuse as we did, but they didn't. "I don't think that's how a school should handle themselves." Both Jane and Ann, and several parents of Beckett's victims, have told BBC News NI that the school failed in terms of safeguarding, but also in terms of support and care for mother said the priority for Lagan College "was managing their public image, not looking after the girls who had been harmed".Another parent said the school showed an "aloofness and detachment" when dealing with the harm done to his daughter.A third parent claimed the school had taken "no responsibility and wishes to pretend this didn't happen".Both Jane and Ann said they recalled a school assembly at the time of the police investigation. They said: "We were all taken into the hall. And Mrs McNamee headed the assembly. She told us that people are innocent until proven guilty. "That, this is a member of staff and we should not be talking about it. "We can't talk to the support staff about it, we can't talk to our friends about it. "We are not allowed to mention it at all in school." They said the reason given for this was "in case they had to be on the stand in the future". Apology 'would be nice' Jane said her mum received an email from the school's board of governors."It was something along the lines of: 'As your daughter is no longer in school anymore, there's nothing, basically, we can do to help.'"She added they would like an acknowledgment of the hurt caused."An apology would be nice. But they're not going to do that." In a statement, Lagan College told BBC News NI: "The safety and wellbeing of all our pupils has at all times been, remains, and will always be Lagan College's highest priority."Mr Beckett had worked in a school environment prior to joining Lagan College, and received a clear Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from Access NI, and had appropriate references for his position."We are unable to comment any further at this stage to ensure that we do not prejudice legal action." You can listen to this story in full on The State Of Us later here to subscribe and listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds every Tuesday and Thursday.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
STEM careers: How the industry is tackling its gender gap
It is literally Emma Morris' job to keep the lights across Northern Ireland director of operations for SONI, Northern Ireland's electricity grid operator, she oversees the electricity she wants more young women to follow in her Morris is one of the few women in leadership positions in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in Northern Ireland. According to the Department for the Economy's (DfE) women in STEM taskforce, only one in five STEM jobs are filled by Morris took A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry before studying electrical and electronic engineering at Queen's University Belfast (QUB)."We've made real progress in recent years but it's still very much a male dominated profession," she told BBC News said at QUB, while there were "around 120 people in my class, four of us were girls". Gender gap in STEM But the "gender gap" between girls and boys studying STEM subjects starts earlier, at 2024, while maths and physics were among the most popular subjects studied at A-level by boys they were not in the top five most popular subjects taken by girls. During Engineers Week, which took place earlier in March, Emma Morris and SONI hosted pupils from Lagan College in Belfast with the aim of encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers."There maybe is that perception, traditionally, that engineering in particular, and other STEM subjects, are more male-oriented careers," Emma Morris said."Engineering is about so much more than that, and I don't know why females don't flock to the STEM subjects." Women in engineering Civil engineer Clare Morris also came to SONI to meet the is an associate director at a large civil engineering consultancy in Belfast called McAdam helped to create Engineers Week to raise awareness of careers in engineering."We've engaged over 2,000 children across Northern Ireland this year in the roles of engineering, in hands-on activities," she said. Clare Morris recognised what she described as "the disparity" between men and women studying engineering when she was one of only seven women in a class of over 150 studying civil engineering at university."Whilst the number of women in engineering is increasing, it's not increasing at a rate where we're seeing it reflected in those graduate or middle management or senior management roles," she Morris said that stereotypes around engineering and other STEM careers needed to be tackled."There's that misconception that engineering is about physical labour, hard hats, muddy boots and construction," she said."When really at the core of engineering it's about communication, creativity, innovation and teamwork." Future careers The message was certainly getting through to Lagan College pupils Lauren and Eva, who are studying STEM subjects."In the past they've been very known to be boys' subjects or subjects that boys predominantly would have done," Lauren told BBC News NI."Knowing that not many girls do it or thinking 'am I going to be the only girl in the class?' would make you not want to go on to study it."But Lauren is now looking at a future career as an engineer."Once women and girls start coming in then other younger girls will feel more confident."That's how it will grow." Eva, meanwhile, is considering mechanical or electrical engineering as a future career."Men and women, obviously their brain power is basically the same so I think more women should definitely be encouraged to go into more STEM subjects," she said."You should really just follow what you are best at, so if you think that you are going to be good at those subjects you should definitely go for it and shouldn't worry about what other people are going to think or say."For SONI's Emma Morris, it is about getting girls interested in STEM at a young age."It's really about getting to people when they're young, and trying to do away with the stereotypes, you know, that this is for men," she said."Because it's not."
