Latest news with #StJames'sPrimarySchool
RTÉ News
06-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Principal says children distressed after 'two really popular boys' deported
Two brothers who were among 35 people deported from Ireland this week were described as "really popular" and fully integrated into their Dublin primary school. Principal of St James's Primary School Ciaran Cronin said the boys' mother had an immigration appointment scheduled for next month. "So, for this to be sprung on them, if they thought that they were awaiting a further appointment with immigration, that's a very cruel way to do things to children," he said. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Cronin said other children who lived in the same facility as the boys saw them and their mother being removed ahead of the deportation flight to Nigeria. "On Wednesday morning they all came to school completely distressed, upset, visibly shaken by what they had seen at the hotel in the morning. And they had watched as the family's stuff was packed up out of their hotel rooms and they were put on to a minibus to be taken away. "They came to school then to tell us that. That's how we found out what was happening. We had been in touch with the mother for a long time, knowing that they were going through the deportation process. But we were trying to advocate on their behalf, put in character references to say how lovely the children are and how much we want to keep them here in the school. "But on Wednesday morning, when the children came in, we kind of knew it's the end of the line for them, unfortunately," Mr Cronin said. He described the brothers as "two really popular boys" with loads of friends. "They were part of the football team. They played the Cumann na mBunscol GAA tournament the last two years, two really popular boys, had loads of friends and got on really well with everyone and they're just such a huge loss to the school. Such a huge loss," he said. Mr Cronin said that in March 2022, 32 children living in the Red Cow Hotel were enrolled in the school. Many were later moved to different accommodations around the country, but 14 were still attending St James's Primary School. He said that yesterday the teachers explained to the other children that their friends were gone and were not coming back. "At home time yesterday pupils ran out in tears telling their parents that they're gone. And that's the impact that it's having. "They've lost their friends, they're looking to see if they have their WhatsApp, if they're online, on their WhatsApp that they can contact them, that kind of stuff, and they haven't been able to make contact with them since. "So, the children are so upset, but also for the children who are living in the Red Cow, they're all terrified because they think it might be them next." Mr Cronin said as educators they have been told to "do things in a trauma informed way and be careful how you speak to children who've been through traumatic situations", but said it "just feels that this wasn't handled in that way at all." He said that changing the system to speed up the process to prevent children being in schools for years before a decision is made will not make the children in his school "feel any better about what's happened to their friends".
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Investigation into incident at Dublin city schoolyard
A teenager was arrested and a garda investigation is under way after an incident in a schoolyard in Dublin's south inner city this week. According to eyewitnesses, a teenage boy wielding a knife chased a man on to the grounds of St James's Primary School on Basin View lane in Dublin 8, and punched and threatened him, before being confronted by staff at the school who managed to get the boy out of the schoolyard. The teenager returned with an older woman a few minutes later and shouted obscenities at the man, who is a foreign national. He also shouted "Dublin 8 says no". Three weeks ago an encampment was set up close to the school on Basin View, by anti-immigration protesters who are objecting to the opening of a second IPAS centre on the lane. Under tricolours, protesters have hung a large banner which reads 'D8 says no'. This is the name those involved have given to their campaign. The encampment is close to two primary schools and one secondary school on the narrow city thoroughfare which is nestled between the new children's hospital and the Guinness complex. Signs have also been hung which say 'Keep our children safe'. The attack at the school took place shortly before 9pm on Wednesday morning and was witnessed by a number of children who had yet to enter the school building, as well as their parents. According to eyewitnesses the boy shouted about 'paedophiles' as he attacked the man. It is understood that the man was waiting outside the school as a friend who was with him dropped off his child. Gardaí, including the Armed Support Unit, attended the scene and the boy was arrested a short time later and detained before being released. An Garda Síochána said: "Gardaí attended the scene of an alleged assault and public order incident at Basin Street, Dublin 8 on Wednesday 28th May 2025 at approximately 8.45am. "A male youth was arrested in relation to the incident. He has since been released and a file will now be prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme." Under the Children's Act it is for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme to decide whether or not the file should be sent on to the DPP for prosecution in the courts. Gardaí say their investigation is ongoing. The anti-immigration encampment is directly beside and facing the entrance to a second primary school, Canal Way Educate Together. It is outside a premises which is currently being converted into residential accommodation with a view to housing asylum seekers. An adjacent building already houses around 20 people seeking International Protection. Wednesday's attack follows rising tensions locally over recent weeks as a result of the encampment and concern as to its potential impact. Protest 'hijacked', locals say Locals say the protest was originally established by local parents who are opposed to a second Direct Provision centre opening on the lane and say the area has been neglected for too long and has very few services, but locals say this original protest has been "hijacked" by others with sinister motives. "The protest has been hijacked by people who are trying to stir up hate and racism and this [attack] is a direct result of their actions," one person told RTÉ News. "That innocent gentleman who was just waiting for another parent was attacked and could have been stabbed or badly injured," they added. Speaking about the encampment a parent said: "It's absolutely intimidating. There's dogs, there's drugs - you can smell the stench of weed. The whole thing is absolutely intimidating for children and families." Of the attack that took place in the schoolyard on Wednesday the parent said: "Everybody is rattled". Also on Wednesday, a number of local organisations, including Basin View's two primary schools, met to discuss their concerns about rising tensions. The meeting was arranged before the attack happened. On Thursday, the organisations jointly published a leaflet. The leaflet states: "We are concerned by the small minority who intimidate children, parents, teachers, and workers. We want this intimidation to stop we want to work with you to make it stop. "We are writing this because we care about the safety of our community and believe that misinformation, hate and violence have no place here. We believe everyone here deserves to be safe, no matter the color of their skin." Warning that what is happening is "hurting children", the leaflet says: "Fear, lies and panic spread very easily on social media, and lead to people being targeted based on the color of their skin."
