University suspends 10 students over virus regulations breaches
Move comes as police continue to issue notices over Holyland parties
STUDENTS from Ulster University have received a precautionary suspension for breaching coronavirus guidelines.
A spokesperson for the university said 10 students have received precautionary suspensions, with a further three cases pending since a new disciplinary policy was introduced on Monday.
It’s after the university said last week that students who breached coronavirus regulations would face sanctions up to and including expulsion.
A spokesperson said: “Ulster University has issued precautionary suspension letters to 10 students with a further three cases pending since the implementation of the University’s disciplinary policy for Covid related referrals on September 21.”
It was also confirmed on Wednesday that 27 Queen’s University students have so far been suspended for up to two weeks for breaching coronavirus guidelines.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, a spokesperson for the university said it “investigates every complaint it receives and applies disciplinary measures as appropriate in accordance with our student code of conduct regulations”.
“In addition, if the University receives notification of a Covid breach from the PSNI, students will be suspended with immediate effect for 14 days. Ulster University have introduced a similar policy.”
Recent disorder in the Holyland area of south Belfast has to date resulted in 237 Covid notices being served over the past week, along with 42 prohibition notices and 14 Community Resolution Notices.
Police said a total of 40 Covid notices, 12 prohibition notices and three Community Resolution Notices were issued on Tuesday through to the early hours of Wednesday morning as part of the ongoing operation to address antisocial and criminal activity in the area.
One young man racked up fines of £240 after being served with four Covid notices in south Belfast on Tuesday.
Police said he “continued to disregard” their advice as they again were forced to act on Holyland gatherings and house parties. “People need to stop this behaviour,” said Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick.
He added: “Police officers will continue to issue notices as required until people take responsibility for their actions.”
Speaking to her scrutiny committee at Stormont, Economy Minister Diane Dodds issued a warning to students to “obey the rules”. Students have also been asked to “think carefully” about whether they should go home at weekends amid coronavirus fears this winter.
Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young warned Northern Ireland could be recording 600 new coronavirus infections a day in a month’s time.
Professor Young said he was advising students not to travel home from university at weekend unless it is absolutely necessary. “I would ask students to think carefully about whether they need to go home at weekends and whether that’s the best thing to do,” he told Radio Ulster’s Nolan show.
“If you go home at the weekend to see your family, please be especially careful with anyone who is older or vulnerable, not to go too near them.”
‘I’d ask students to think carefully about whether they need to go home at weekends’