KEY POINTS:
St Paul's College will support any student who chooses to go to police, after the discovery of a secretive fight club within the Ponsonby school.
Spokesman Brother Richard Dunleavy yesterday told the Weekend Herald the school had received a legal opinion that it could not, itself, press charges against those involved, but could support anyone who had been assaulted and wanted legal redress.
Six students alleged to be involved have been suspended until Wednesday, when they will go before the board of trustees. They face three possible outcomes: continued suspension, being allowed to return to school on special conditions, or full ex-pulsion from the 250-pupil school.
The students were believed to be from "the junior levels" of the school, Brother Richard said.
Videos released on YouTube - and discovered by media this week - showed the students kicking and punching one another in what appeared to be organised scraps.
It is believed the fights were filmed on cellphones. Brother Richard said principal Peter Coddington was carrying out "urgent inquiries" to find who organised the fights, or videoed them.
"The principal is undertaking thorough and decisive action in this matter. Mr Coddington has already identified all of the boys in the fights and conducted investigations."
Statements had been taken from a number of students, and further suspensions or disciplinary action was likely, Brother Richard said.
Community leaders spoke to students yesterday on the school's zero tolerance for violence.
Brother Richard said the prefects and senior students were taking on a strong leadership role.
At a special assembly this week, school board members and a parish priest discussed the alleged fight club with students.
St Paul's has also engaged independent investigator Peter Goddard - a former principal of Orewa College - to investigate the fights and interview students.
His report is expected to be written by the end of next week.
