O’Loughlin Catholic College closed after alleged break-in, vandalism

A Top End school was forced to close after alleged vandals trashed the grounds. We reveal what happened and how bad the damage was.

O'Loughlin Catholic College

Students were left to study from home when O’Loughlin Catholic College was forced to close on Tuesday after it was allegedly broken into and vandalised.

The Karama school sent parents a text advising of the school’s closure at 7.18am on Tuesday.

In a follow-up email, O’Loughlin Catholic College said the school’s administration block, creative arts area and food technology rooms had been targeted by alleged vandals.

“I know many of you and your children will be feeling anxious and worried,” the email read.

“I assure you, especially our new families, that this is most unusal for O’Loughlin to experience this kind of vandalism.”

Director of Catholic Education NT Paul Greaves said he was disappointed in the damage inflicted on the school but was proud of how the community came together.

Mr Greaves said staff and teachers were involved in assessing the damage and cleaning up the school.

He said O’Loughlin Catholic College was a “good example of a strong community”.

“We go on with hope,” he said.

“We’ll be back, we’ll be doing a good job, and we’ll be resilient.”

Mr Greaves said the school had chosen not to share photos of the damage “as a way of not glorifying it”.

O’Loughlin students Jack and Tilly told ABC Radio the damage to their school was terrible.

“There were bins of smashed computers,” Tilly, who is in Year 8, said.

“There was fire extinguisher powder on the floor and there was some inappropriate slurs and images spray painted.”

Jack said Year 11 and 12 students were unable to attend classes on Wednesday and studied from home.

He said his classmates were feeling scared.

“They just didn’t think this would happen,” he said.

“We have a place to learn, and then we have to worry about people breaking in and catching up on lessons ... over someone misbehaving and trussing up our school.”

An NT Police spokesman said the Karama school was allegedly broken into at 12.30am on Tuesday.

He said police were investigating the alleged break-in and “an incident of criminal damage”.

“An unlawful entry was also reported at the same location on 2 February 2023,” the spokesman said.

“Both incidents remain under investigation and at this stage no arrests have been made.”