Boy’s killer allowed ‘secret’ move to another school

A TEENAGER who killed a fellow pupil in a gym hall attack was allowed to move to another school in the same city to continue his education, after admitting his guilt.

Rosshall Academy in Glasgow, where Euan Craig was punched to death by a fellow pupil. Picture: Contributed

The boy spent three weeks at the secondary school in Glasgow after pleading guilty to punching 14-year-old Euan Craig to death. His new classmates, as well as most of his teachers were reportedly unaware that he was awaiting sentence for culpable homicide.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, started at the new school on 3 September last year more than three months after he killed a pupil by repeatedly punching him on the side of the head.

His victim suffered serious head injuries in the attack at Rosshall Academy in Crookston, Glasgow, on 23 May. He died the next day in hospital.

The attack took place after the killer was accidentally hit by a sponge ball. He pleaded guilty to culpable homicide on 25 October, but was allowed to remain at his new school until 16 November.

The following week, he was sentenced by judge Lord Bracadale to three and a half years’ detention .

Speaking to a Sunday newspaper, a source close to the school the boy was transferred to said: “Only teachers who had direct contact with [the boy] were told who he was.

“[His] arrival was conducted in complete secrecy. There should never have been any question about schooling him at home, but instead education officials put him back in the classroom.”

Glasgow City Council said it had fully involved the parent council in the decision to move the boy to the school.

But Euan’s father, Richard Craig, 45, said: “[He] beat my son to death with his bare hands merely for accidentally hitting him with a soft sponge ball.

“What might have happened if a child at [the new school] had recognised him and confronted him for his actions?”

His wife Ann, 44, added: “There are still far too many unanswered questions. We’ve not been given adequate explanation as to why Euan’s class was left unsupervised without a teacher for so long that [he] could come in from another classroom, attack my son and simply walk away.”

Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said parents needed to know why the boy was not home- schooled. “It’s difficult to comment without knowing the full facts, but naturally questions will be raised, especially by parents, whether the correct procedures were followed,” she said.

“It’s a serious issue and I think the parents and schools involved need to know what’s gone on.”

Labour’s justice spokesman Graeme Pearson said: “We really need to challenge whether the right decision was taken to send [this boy] to another school after he pleaded guilty to such a terrible crime.

“Given the nature of the crime, consideration should have been given to tutoring [him] at home.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “A multi-agency full risk assessment was carried out prior to the move and the parent council fully involved in the decision. As a council we have a duty of care to educate every child.”

Alan McKenzie, acting general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, said: “There’s a huge necessity to warn teachers in cases like this.

“Home schooling is an option councils are reluctant to take because they want pupils to remain in mainstream [education]. The most important thing for us was whether a risk assessment was carried out and whether teachers were warned. Keeping it totally anonymous is a hostage to fortune.”