Schoolboys find gun in Valley Park

The boys, both aged 10, were part of a P6 class from Glengormley Integrated Primary School who were working on a Forest Schools project in the park on Tuesday, June 24.

They came across the handgun and a balaclava, which were partially buried, and immediately alerted their teacher.

“Thankfully they knew immediately that it looked real and they alerted their teacher who in turn called the police,” said school principal Nigel Arnold.

He praised the boys for their responsible actions and behaviour, and said the incident was a reminder to all pupils about the importance of “reporting and not touching anything in or out of school which they find suspicious.”

It’s understood that police officers confirmed that the gun, thought to have been a revolver, was real.

Mr Arnold said that the school community had been left “stunned and angered” by the incident. But he welcomed the fact that the gun is now in the hands of the police.

“Children’s lives were placed at great risk yesterday as a result of this mindless act. This sort of reckless, criminal behaviour is really not wanted or accepted in any of our communities,” he added.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that the “suspected firearm” was taken away for forensic examination and that enquiries are continuing.