Videos from school rugby trip investigated by police

A police investigation which followed a rugby trip to Portugal by Methodist College Belfast focused on videos reported to be circulating.

The PSNI has confirmed 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 last week awarded more than £50,000 in a civil case in the wake of the training camp in Portugal.

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

The family of Mr McConkey, now 19, say he was left "traumatised" after "degrading" videos were recorded of him on the trip in December 2022.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police received a report on January 24th 2023 of videos being circulated amongst members of the school population.

"Neighbourhood officers liaised with the school and appropriate guidance and support was provided. An investigation was conducted following receipt of this report.

"No further police action was taken."

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

It is his case that they then used a video to coerce him into having his head shaved.

It is also his case that he was forced to witness other boys as they were coerced into performing 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 had been "made aware of the family's concerns" and had met with representatives from Methody.

A spokesperson said a "serious incident report was submitted".

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, the education minister said it is "unacceptable that this occurred".

Paul Givan also described it as a "terrible incident" and said it's "been a very sorry state of affairs".

"We will seek reassurances in incidents like this, from any school involved, that the appropriate measures are being put in place so that there isn't a repeat of this," Givan added.

Givan added that he has "no doubt" that the school takes this seriously.

The IRFU is the governing body for rugby on the island of Ireland, covering the 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 event, we signposted to the relevant authorities for investigation."

Methodist College said it contacted police and that 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 was settled with the school's insurers.

"The fact that these incidents occurred during downtime following training sessions and during sleeping hours has caused the school to review and improve its supervision procedures.

"Updated supervision procedures have been in place in the two years since these incidents occurred and to the school's knowledge there has been no recurrence of any such incidents."

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

Methodist College says pastoral support was made available during and after the trip.

After the civil case was settled on Wednesday, Mr McConkey's mother, Sian Mawhinney, told BBC News NI that her son was "absolutely broken" when he returned from the trip two years ago.

In a statement Ulster Rugby, which runs the annual Schools' Cup competition, said: "What is reported does not align with the values of rugby, or the behaviours we expect from those involved in the game."