A former pupil at one of Northern Ireland's top secondary schools was left 'absolutely broken' after he was forcibly stripped naked and had his head shaved as part of a 'hazing' ritual.
Gabriel McConkey, now 19, also witnessed other boys from Methodist College Belfast performing acts on a sex toy while dressed in women's underwear during a senior rugby team trip to Portugal in December 2022.
Mr McConkey, who was in the lower sixth form at the time, will receive damages of more than £50,000 after the school settled a civil action against it for negligence and failing to properly supervise the group.
It was announced at the High Court on Wednesday that he will be awarded £52,760 plus legal costs.
Mr. McConkey's family and attorney said the outcome was justification for taking the case.
His mother, Sian Mawhinney, said: “The child we sent on a school trip is not the child who physically or mentally returns home.
'He seemed completely devastated by what happened and what he saw.'
Speaking to BBC News NI, she added that parents 'expect their children to be cared for and supervised [by the school] and clearly something has gone terribly wrong. He's traumatized by it.'
Gabriel McConkey was left 'absolutely broken' after he was forcibly stripped naked and had his head shaved as part of a 'hazing' ritual at Methodist College Belfast
Mr McConkey (centre) with his lawyer Victoria Haddock of Phoenix Law (right), his sister Rory, his mother Sian Mawhinney and father Michael McConkey
Mr McConkey, from the Carryduff on the outskirts of Belfast, was 17 years old and in the Lower Sixth Form at Methody when he was chosen to travel to a sporting resort in the Algarve for warm weather training.
He alleged that older students subjected him and some other younger members of the squad to a series of alleged hazing incidents.
According to the claim, he was forced to have his head shaved as part of humiliating rituals.
McConkey was also forced to strip naked, run along a stretch of path and jump into a swimming pool in a 'naked mile' ritual, it was claimed.
His lawyers argued that another incident involved witnessing other students performing acts on a sex toy while wearing women's underwear.
Proceedings were initiated against the school's board of directors for alleged failure to prevent hazing and to properly supervise students during the rugby tour.
The case was due to have a three-day trial, but Mr Justice Fowler was told the settlement had been reached on the terms disclosed.
No liability was admitted as part of the resolution.
Mr McConkey, who was in the lower sixth form at the time, will receive more than £50,000 in damages from Methodist College Belfast after it settled a civil suit alleging negligence and failing to properly supervise the group.
Mr McConkey, who is now studying sports coaching at Gloucestershire University, went to court with his family for the outcome.
His mother recalled that he was “in a state of trauma” after the trip.
As a result of all this, Gabriel left school rugby because it had become a “hostile environment,” she said.
The family's lawyer, Victoria Haddock of Phoenix Law, said: 'Our client suffered painful personal injuries as a result of humiliating, violent incidents inflicted on him during a school trip to Methodist College.
'This happened at a critical stage of his formative life, in the middle of his final exams.'
Mrs Haddock added: 'He is satisfied that the matter has been resolved today and that he has been vindicated with a settlement in his favor of £52,760.'
MailOnline has contacted Methodist College Belfast for comment.
