OMEN
02-05-2009, 11:41 PM
Three teachers are in "a state of shock" after they were detained, and one strip-searched, at a Bulgarian airport, the school principal has said.
The teachers, from Rosstulla Special School in Newtownabbey, were on their way home from a school skiing trip when their ordeal began at Sofia airport.
They had earlier reported a theft of money from their hotel to the police.
"They cooperated fully so it was quite a shock. Nothing was explained to them," said principal Fiona Burke.
Strip-search
Mrs Burke said the school party was going through passport control when officials stopped the vice-principal and two other teachers.
"The vice-principal had her passport removed, and wasn't allowed to communicate with anybody," she said.
"A member of staff was told she had now become a suspect, having been told earlier there was no question that any of them were suspects in the theft.
"The other member asked what was happening and was struck under the chin with her passport, and told to be quiet.
"She was removed and asked to remove her clothes and was strip-searched."
Mrs Burke said the teachers were "in a state of shock".
"They are still reeling from what has happened.
"That this can actually happen to three perfectly innocent girls doing their best to take a group of youngsters away."
The ten children were looked after by other members of the school staff and a parent during the incident.
Mrs Burke said the tour company which organised the trip was in contact with the Bulgarian authorities in London.
BBC
The teachers, from Rosstulla Special School in Newtownabbey, were on their way home from a school skiing trip when their ordeal began at Sofia airport.
They had earlier reported a theft of money from their hotel to the police.
"They cooperated fully so it was quite a shock. Nothing was explained to them," said principal Fiona Burke.
Strip-search
Mrs Burke said the school party was going through passport control when officials stopped the vice-principal and two other teachers.
"The vice-principal had her passport removed, and wasn't allowed to communicate with anybody," she said.
"A member of staff was told she had now become a suspect, having been told earlier there was no question that any of them were suspects in the theft.
"The other member asked what was happening and was struck under the chin with her passport, and told to be quiet.
"She was removed and asked to remove her clothes and was strip-searched."
Mrs Burke said the teachers were "in a state of shock".
"They are still reeling from what has happened.
"That this can actually happen to three perfectly innocent girls doing their best to take a group of youngsters away."
The ten children were looked after by other members of the school staff and a parent during the incident.
Mrs Burke said the tour company which organised the trip was in contact with the Bulgarian authorities in London.
BBC