27 November 2003 Edition

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Brit choppers disrupt 11-plus exams

British Army helicopters have disrupted pupils sitting their 11+ Transfer Tests in Belfast for the second time in two weeks. Last Friday 21 November, pupils at St John the Baptist Boys PS in Finaghy Road North were interrupted at the start of their 11+ test as a low-flying British Army helicopter circled the school for almost half of the one-hour test.

This was the second time in two weeks that similar disruption occurred. Pupils at the near-by Holy Trinity Girls PS had to endure the noise of an overflying aircraft two weeks ago as they sat the test.

St John's Principal Frank Donnelly said 77 pupils and a similar number of girls in the school next door had just started the test when the noise began.

"It circled the school for ten minutes, went away, came back and circled again," he said. "We were told there was an embargo on flying today, but there certainly wasn't one here. They weren't just flying past — they were circling and flying low."

Donnelly contacted the British Army at Lisburn, but it was 25 more minutes before the helicopter flew off.

In the first incident at Holy Trinity, two weeks ago, British Army helicopters hovered over the school during the test despite complaints by the school principal, Michael Lombard. The helicopters circulated over the West Belfast school for two hours, as around 60 pupils were sitting the first of this month's transfer tests.

Teachers complained that the noise was disrupting the pupils' concentration during their exam.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland