Students at a Derry college for girls claimed a male member of staff was distributing buns in support for an anti-abortion stance in the upcoming Irish referendum.
The claims were made today that a male member of staff at Thornhill College was passing out baked goods to girls in the school in a gesture to promote saving the eighth amendment.
The referendum, which is set for May 25 in the Republic of Ireland, will challenge Ireland's current laws on abortion and invite Irish citizens to either repeal or save the eight amendment which, since 1983, has given unborn foetuses and pregnant women an equal right to life.
Speaking to Derry Now, one senior student said: "I am pro-choice and I believe people are entitled to their own opinion and can express it.
"However, having a male member of staff express his opinion within the school is unfair because there are so many young people that don’t understand the concept of abortion and the topic can be sensitive to anyone within the school.
"I was just annoyed, not because of his opinion, but because of the many young people within the school that don’t understand."
Many students also took to social media to express their feelings on the subject. One young woman said it was 'shocking and extremely inappropriate'.
Another said she was 'in disbelief' adding, 'These girls are as young as 11, inform them on the issue but let them come to their own conclusion'.
One young woman said: 'Thornhill are educating intelligent young women, who should all be able and allowed to form their own opinion on matters such as abortion, without trusted adults forcing an opinion on impressionable 12/13 year olds'.
However, there was also support for the school. One young woman wrote: "One's actions shouldn’t bring down a whole school'.
Another girl added: "In my opinion, Thornhill is very equal sided for the most part...don’t bring the whole school down for it".
While this young woman wrote: "It’s normally a place where us girls can feel safe and accepted, however, days like today are what stick out in people’s memory, unfair and frustrating."
Derry Now contacted Thornhill College for comment on the matter, however, they have not yet come back with a reply.
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