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Second Derry school targeted by vaccination protesters

Anti-vaxx protestors handed out leaflets outside St Brigids College in Derry yesterday
Anti-vaxx protestors handed out leaflets outside St Brigids College in Derry yesterday Anti-vaxx protestors handed out leaflets outside St Brigids College in Derry yesterday

ANTI-VAXXERS have protested outside a second Derry school in a month - in a move condemned by a body representing students as "intimidating and unacceptable".

St Brigid's College in the city was targeted yesterday with pupils handed leaflets containing "false information" as they made their way out the school gates.

Last month, suspended GP Dr Anne McCloskey was among a group of people protesting outside St Columb's College over the extension of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to 12-15 year-olds.

In a statement released last night by the Secondary Students Union of Northern Ireland (SSUNI), its president Morgan Shuttleworth rounded on those responsible and described their actions as "immoral".

“Every student deserves to feel safe on their way to, from and in school. The protest outside St. Brigid’s College was unfortunately not an isolated incident and an act of intimidation against students simply trying to survive a difficult school year," he said.

"The spreading of graphic, triggering and purposely false information in any context is unacceptable, and targeting this at young people is equally unacceptable.

"Young people should be free to make their own decisions and come to their own conclusions about the vaccine without being told false information about the science behind the vaccine.

"This is the second time a protest of this nature has taken place outside a school, and the deliberate targeting of vulnerable young people by adults is both immoral and malicious."

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin said the incident had caused "real distress" to some of the St Brigid's students and criticised those taking part for handing out "destructive information".