A former pupil at one of Northern Ireland’s top grammar schools is to get £50,000 in damages over allegedly being forced to strip naked and have his head shaved as part of “hazing” initiations on school rugby tour.
Gabriel McConkey also claims he also witnessed other boys from Methodist College Belfast perform acts on a sex toy at their base in Portugal.
The 19-year-old sued the school’s governors for alleged negligence and failure to properly supervise the senior rugby squad on the trip in December 2022.
Mr McConkey’s family and solicitor declared the outcome a vindication in taking the case.
He was also filmed in what the family say were “degrading” videos which left him “traumatised”.
The school has apologised and reviewed how such trips are supervised.
Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry joins Ciarán Dunbar.
Top Belfast grammar repentant after ‘traumatised’ boy breaks ranks on rugby hazing
