Numerous schools across Northern Ireland were shut down following threatening emails, prompting police investigations and community responses.
Several schools in Northern Ireland were closed on Monday morning due to a series of disturbing emails that prompted security concerns. The impacted schools are located in Strabane, Enniskillen, and Ballycastle and included notable institutions such as Strabane Academy, Holy Cross College, and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
According to reports, the emails claimed to originate from an individual in the Republic of Ireland and indicated the schools would be targeted. As a precaution, the schools announced their closure, turning away pupils who arrived for the day. Local Councillor Jason Barr remarked on social media that schools in Strabane were closed due to these escalating security concerns, although he stated he was uncertain of the specific circumstances surrounding the situation.
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed they were investigating the communications. They reported receiving notifications on Monday regarding the emails and were actively liaising with the affected schools and the Metropolitan Police in London to address the ongoing matter. The PSNI added that further information had not yet been disclosed.
DUP MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Deborah Erskine, expressed her concern regarding the emails, labelling their content as “despicable.” Speaking to the media, she noted, “Early this morning I was in touch with the local Police regarding the despicable emails sent to schools in this area. Sadly the individual behind it sought to cause havoc across many schools in NI and elsewhere.” Ms Erskine commended the rapid response and leadership of school staff and the PSNI in addressing the situation.
Despite the closures, some schools in the surrounding areas, including St Mary’s, St Catherine’s, Cloughcor, and Knockavoe, remained operational that morning. As the investigation continues, both the PSNI and local representatives maintain close communication with communities affected by this incident.
An Garda Síochána, the police force of the Republic of Ireland, clarified that the matter of school closures in Northern Ireland does not fall under their jurisdiction and have not confirmed if they are collaborating with the PSNI. The situation continues to unfold as authorities work to ensure the safety of students and staff in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2025/03/24/psni-investigate-after-email-causes-up-to-nine-school-closures-in-northern-ireland/ – This article supports the claim that several schools in Northern Ireland were closed due to security concerns caused by disturbing emails. It also mentions the involvement of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in the investigation.
- https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0324/1503715-school-closures-security/ – This article corroborates the report of school closures in Northern Ireland due to a security concern and mentions the ongoing situation without specifying further details.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the source of the original article, though direct corroboration from this specific URL is not available outside of the provided text. It generally outlines the incident and reactions from local authorities and representatives.
- https://www.psni.police.uk/news/ – While not directly linked to the incident, this is the official Police Service of Northern Ireland website where updates on investigations and responses to security incidents are typically posted.
- https://www.garda.ie/en/About-Us/Our-Role.html – This webpage explains the role of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, which clarifies their jurisdiction does not extend to Northern Ireland, consistent with the article’s mention of their non-involvement.
- https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ – This is a regional news source that may cover local incidents such as school closures and security concerns, though a specific article link is not provided in the search results.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent due to the specific mention of a current event, but without an exact date within the context, it’s challenging to determine its recency. However, the fact that it involves ongoing investigations suggests it is relatively fresh.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quotes from Councillor Jason Barr and MLA Deborah Erskine appear to be original to this context, as no earlier references were found. However, due to the lack of further historical data, it cannot be confirmed if these are the earliest known references.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable publication (Irish News), indicating a high level of reliability due to its established reputation for providing accurate local news.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims in the narrative seem plausible given the context of a security threat and the actions taken by authorities, which align with typical responses to such incidents.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative’s recent context, original quotes, and reliability of the publication contribute to a high assessment score. The plausibility of the situation also supports the credibility of the information.
