Group of Spanish students subjected to a terrifying ordeal of ‘racist abuse and harassment’ by youths on e-scooters

A group of Spanish students was subjected to a terrifying ordeal on Monday evening, suffering “racist abuse and harassment” from a number of youths on e-scooters.

Caoimhe O'Connell, director of the Athlone based Shannon Academy of English, told the Herald the incident was completely unprovoked, and had never happened before.

It was the last night for the group of 26 students in Ireland, all aged between 14 and 15, and they were very upset by the incident, which happened at around 6 p.m..

She said that a group of youths approached the students in the Golden Island Shopping Centre.

“They were calling them immigrants, saying they weren’t welcome. 'We don’t want immigrants here, we don’t want Spanish here, you need to get out’. One of them sprayed something, maybe it was deodorant, in one of the boy’s eyes.” 

The academy’s teachers tried to calm the situation and remove the students to the bus, which was picking them up. “Even then they were pushing and shoving the students,” said Ms O'Connell. “Then they seemed to disappear for a few minutes, but then returned on six or seven e-scooters. There were two on each scooter but they had their hoods up, and balaclavas, so you couldn’t see their faces. They started circling the bus as the driver was pulling away, and weaving in and out in front of it.” They also activated the pedestrian crossing lights, changing the traffic lights to red.

“Then they started trying to open the emergency door,” she said. “They followed the bus for quite a bit. The students were completely terrified. It was very intimidating.” The group was afraid one of them would open the door while the bus was driving or cut across in front of it. She said it was a dreadful experience for them to go back to their families with.

“But it doesn’t represent the Athlone that I know,” Ms O’Connell said.

She added that contact has been made with local gardaí and reports have been made.

“The students left at 11.30 this morning, (Tuesday), we picked them up at the Regional Sports Centre because they were afraid to be in the town. The original plan was they would have some free time in the town but we had to change that. We did some activities with them at the centre and got them a hot chocolate, so at least that was their last memory rather than the terrifying evening before.” 

She said that an incident like this had never happened in the 25 years the academy has been running.

“Our host families were very supportive. We contacted them to let them know this had happened and they took extra care of the students. Having these students, brings a lot to a town, in terms of employment, host families, the local amenities, we try to use all local providers.” 

She asked that the community be vigilant and not tolerate these types of “shocking” incidents. “They were organised and looking for trouble.” 

The driver of the bus, Willie Moore of Moore Bus hire, said he had never seen anything like it. “They followed me as far as the Crescent. They came up on the inside, they came up on the paths,” he said. “The students were in bits. They were in an awful state.” 

The gardaí have been contacted for comment.