Boys expelled from Rathkeale after storming hostel

Two boys behind a drunken midnight attack on sleeping classmates at Masterton's Rathkeale College's boarding hostels have been expelled.

Principal Neville Duckmanton today confirmed they had been asked to leave the school but would not comment further.

Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr, of Masterton police, said the matter had been referred to Youth Aid.

The 16-year-olds were both day pupils at the college. It is alleged that they entered a school boarding hospital one Saturday night and went from room to room tossing sleeping boys from their beds and hitting some at random.

Seven boys were attacked and one had to be taken to hospital.

Mr Duckmanton has said the school community was upset about the incident which he believed was spur of the moment.

Counselling was offered to all boys caught up in the incident and security at the school is being tightened.

- NZPA