School stabbing report exaggerated - father

THE father of a Tipperary schoolboy who was wounded in a stabbing incident on Tuesday said a newspaper report had exaggerated…

THE father of a Tipperary schoolboy who was wounded in a stabbing incident on Tuesday said a newspaper report had exaggerated what had happened.

Mr Tadhg O Floinn, a jeweller of Mitchell Street, Nenagh, told The Irish Times that his son, Tadhg Og (14), was slightly cut on the left hand and had a slight mark on his back.

The report, in yesterday's Star newspaper (Irish edition), stated that he had suffered multiple stab wounds following "a bullying attack", and a punctured lung was suspected.

"He was in no danger and was watching television in hospital on Tuesday night," said Mr O Floinn. He also denied there was bullying involved. "We don't know where that report came from", he said.

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The incident happened just before 9 a.m. in a corridor in St Joseph's Christian Brothers secondary school in the town. Another pupil attacked Tadhg Og with what gardai described as a kitchen knife.

The boy was taken to Nenagh General Hospital, where he was still detained yesterday and described as "stable". Mr O Floinn declared: "We don't know what happened and both families are very upset."

Supt Kevin Ludlow, Nenagh, said gardai were investigating the matter fully. Gardai also said there did not appear to be any bullying involved in the incident.

The school principal, Brother John Casey, was not available for comment yesterday.

The school was described locally as "very well run".