Nearly a dozen primary schools in Ireland had to shut down following a threatening email hinting at a potential mass shooting. Over 10 schools in County Carlow closed their doors after receiving the email, which authorities are investigating as a possible hoax.
Schools like St Fiacc’s NS, Ballyconnell NS, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, St Laserian’s NS, Rathvilly primary school, and others decided to close as a precaution after receiving the threat. St Joseph’s National School was also among those that closed, with headteacher Fergal Browne sharing details on the incident.
Browne mentioned that the email, sent from a Gmail account to various schools in Carlow, contained inaccuracies in email addresses, suggesting it was a generic email possibly originating from a different country. Despite the concerning content of a potential school shooting, authorities believe it to be a hoax and have been coordinating with schools to address the situation.
With an increased police presence in the town, Browne reassured parents of the safety measures in place at schools and emphasized the importance of learning from such incidents. Plans are in place to review responses to similar threats in the future after ensuring the safety of all students and staff.
