Methodist College Belfast contacted PSNI over rugby tour

After the civil case was settled on Wednesday, Mr McConkey’s mother, Sian Mawhinney, told BBC News NI that her son was “absolutely broken” when he returned from the trip in December 2022.

“Gabriel came back from this trip a totally different child than the one that we sent away, and I think no mother expects these events to take place on a school trip,” she said.

“They expect their children to be looked after and to be supervised, and obviously something went terribly wrong,” she added.

“He was traumatised by it.”

She said she was “incredibly proud” of her son.

“He is an amazing person because he has a really strong sense of justice,” she said.

In a statement, Ulster Rugby, which runs the annual Schools’ Cup competition, said it acknowledged the settlement made.

“What is reported does not align with the values of rugby, or the behaviours we expect from those involved in the game,” it added.

“This is an issue for Methodist College Belfast, but we will be engaging with the school to ensure we promote rugby as an inclusive and enjoyable game for all.”