School move over 'happy slapping'

Pat Hannaway, the principal of St Joseph's in Creggan, said each incident involved a boy slapping another while they were recorded on a mobile phone.

"It is at this stage, I suppose, quite funny to them - they think it's a bit of craic," Mr Hannaway said.

"But sometimes these things can get more serious and we can't risk that."

He said it was for this reason that the school was taking firm action at an early stage over the incidents which happened last week.

"Happy slapping" is thought to have originated in south London more than a year ago but quickly spread across the UK.

It was largely a playground prank in which an unwitting victim was surprised and slapped lightly around the face while his or her reaction was filmed.

However, there have been several incidents where more serious attacks have occurred.