A GROUP of teenage schoolchildren from the North of Ireland were attacked by a gang of youths during a trip to Manchester on Sunday.
The students from Portadown College in Co Armagh, aged between 14 and 17, were assaulted as they left the Trafford Centre at 9pm on Sunday, October 25.
They had been to the Manchester United and Manchester City Premier League derby earlier that day.
Five students required medical attention following the incident, but their injuries were not serious.
First Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Darryn Causby, told The Irish Post that he was 'shocked’ to hear about the attack.
“It was really disappointing to hear,” he said. “It’s a sad state of affairs if a group of youths cannot go out shopping and be safe.
“I believe it was unprovoked, it’s an unfortunate incident. The school have been away on trips on many occasions and there’s never been any issues.”
The students have since returned home.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “The group of school children from Northern Ireland were set upon by local youths as they were leaving the Trafford Centre.
“They were verbally and physically abused, a few of the students were attacked and received minor injuries.
“The youths had displayed threatening behaviour to the students who then ran to their coach for safety as a security guard chased the offenders.”
Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident and are looking at CCTV in an attempt to identify the offenders.
