Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9561Criminal damage · Co. Donegal · 14 May 2026

Masked students cause disorder at Scoil Mhuire school, Buncrana

Gardaí received a report of criminal damage at Scoil Mhuire secondary school on St Oran's Road, Buncrana, County Donegal, between 11:15pm and 12:15pm on 14 May 2026. Masked students released hens from a cage, pelted buildings and cars with eggs, and one student used an angle grinder to break a lock on an external gate. The school, which has about 900 pupils, went into lockdown, and forensics officers attended on the Thursday evening as part of the Garda investigation. As of the latest report on 15 May 2026, the investigation is ongoing and no arrest or charge has been reported.

  1. Reported15 May
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí received a report of criminal damage at Scoil Mhuire secondary school in Buncrana.
  • Students wearing balaclavas released hens from a cage and pelted buildings and vehicles with eggs.
  • Cars in the public car park at Buncrana Shorefront were targeted with eggs, flour and vegetable oil.
Where
The school is on St Oran's Road, Buncrana; one source gives the road as St Oran's Hill.
When
The criminal damage occurred between 11:15pm and 12:15pm on 14 May 2026, a Thursday.
Weapon
One masked student used an angle grinder to break a lock on an external gate.
Cause
The incidents were described as anti-social behaviour involving senior students during end-of-year disorder.
Other details
  • The school went into lockdown with the gates on Aileach Road and St Oran's Road locked.
  • Staff from the Donegal SPCA attended to help remove the hens.
  • The events were filmed, edited, set to music and shared on social media.
  • The suspects are described only as masked students; no names, ages or nationalities are given.
Investigation
  • Forensics officers attended the school on the Thursday evening as part of the Garda investigation.
  • Garda investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Charges
No arrest or charge is reported in the articles as of 15 May 2026.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí received a report of criminal damage. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatStudents wearing balaclavas ran amok on the school grounds, releasing hens from a cage. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatCars in the public car park at Buncrana Shorefront were targeted with eggs, flour and vegetable oil. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident was reported at Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe premises is on St Oran's Road, Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe disorder took place at Scoil Mhuire secondary school in Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe criminal damage occurred between 11:15pm and 12:15pm on 14 May 2026. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenGardaí received a report of criminal damage at a premises on St Oran's Road between 11:15pm and 12:15pm on 14 May. (donegallive.ie)
  • weaponOne masked student used an angle grinder to break a lock on an external gate. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationForensics officers attended the school on Thursday evening as part of Garda investigations. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGarda investigations are ongoing. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe school went into lockdown with gates on the Aileach Road and St Oran's Road locked. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe events were filmed, edited, overlaid with music and shared on social media. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherStaff from the Donegal SPCA attended to help remove the hens. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 May2026
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Balaclava-clad students spark Garda probe after disorder at Donegal school

    First report of the incident. It covers end-of-year disorder at Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, and a Garda criminal damage investigation. The Whole School Evaluation content is unrelated to the crime.

    suspect
  2. 15 May2026
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí investigate criminal damage incident at Donegal secondary school

    Identifies the premises as Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana and gives the exact time window of 11:15pm to 12:15pm on 14 May 2026. No existing case covers this incident.