A 14 year old student at Navan’s Beaufort college was hospitalised following an assault by a group of fellow students last Monday afternoon.

The assault appears to have homophobic undertones as before one attacker throws the first punch the comment ‘You’re gay’ can clearly be heard, and a number of social media posters have alluded to the fact that the teen was targeted because of his sexuality.

The chair of the Beaufort school board of management, Fianna Fáil councillor Wayne Harding, declined to comment on the incident, and the attack was so vicious that Gardai have requested people stop sharing recordings of it on social media.

A spokesperson told Meath Live, ‘Gardaí are investigating an assault which occurred in the Navan area of Co. Meath on Monday, 15th May 2023 at approximately 2.30pm.

Beaufort College

‘A male juvenile, later attended Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he received treatment for serious facial injuries.

‘An Garda Síochána is aware of a video circulating on social media of this incident and out of respect for the victim in this case we would request that people refrain from sharing this video.

‘An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person with information on the assault to contact Navan Garda Station at 046 9079930.’

Meath Live has seen the thirty second footage which appears to take place as students enter Woodview estate near the school.

The young man is confronted by another student who punches him before a second boy runs in and sucker punches him from the side knocking him to the ground.

After he falls  number of other boys run in and rain down punches and kicks on the youngster as all the time someone can be heard screaming in the background ‘C’mon lads C’mon lads go on lads’.

Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Reilly, a former Mayor of Navan, told us, ‘This is scandalous and the school cannot wash its hands of such behaviour it needs to be stamped out immediately, it is bad enough the young chap was attacked but that there appears to be an elemnt of his been attacked because of his sexuality makes it worse.’