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Tyrone schoolboy given restraining order against classmate

The teenager was told he must not harass or pester a fellow pupil
The teenager was told he must not harass or pester a fellow pupil The teenager was told he must not harass or pester a fellow pupil

A schoolboy in Co Tyrone has been given a restraining order banning him from annoying one of his classmates.

In a case believed to be first of its kind in Northern Ireland, a court has ordered the teenager not to harass or pester a fellow pupil.

A judge yesterday rejected similar orders against three other boys.

Unions said staff and schools occasionally would have to be aware of bail conditions imposed on pupils.

The NASUWT's Northern Ireland official Justin McCamphill said, however, that he was unaware of previous orders designed to keep children in the same school apart.

"It is highly unusual. It is a challenge now for the school in terms of how it is going to operate this in practice," Mr McCamphill said.

The order was put in place for 12 months, during which the youth is prohibited from harassing, pestering or annoying the victim.

This case was a follow-on from an earlier hearing where four youths were scheduled to stand trial at Dungannon Crown Court, but that case collapsed.

The four, who cannot be identified due to their age, were each accused of five counts of assaulting and robbing a boy of £3, every week from May 24 and June 27 2015.

Prosecution Counsel offered no evidence, after which judge Stephen Fowler QC ordered the jury to find all four not guilty.

The case was to return to court after a decision was taken to seek restraining orders against the four, post acquittal.

Judge Fowler rejected two applications against a pair that no longer attend the school.

The final application was challenged by the defence who pointed out at all times his client denied any involvement in the incidents.