The Ambulance Service has issued an unreserved apology to witnesses of an altercation between trainee paramedics celebrating their exam success in Co Londonderry.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) confirmed two people have been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident during a Paramedic in Training course.

The incident occurred at the Rural College and Derrynoid Centre outside Draperstown last Thursday.

It is now known that there were 12 men and one woman participating on the course, some of whom were drinking at the centre when the altercation occurred.

The Ambulance Service has also confirmed it will be paying the bill for damage caused to equipment at the centre, although the final cost for this has yet to be worked out. It stressed that the incident did not involve a brawl or an actual fight.

Staff at the Rural College and Derrynoid Centre said no-one was available to speak about the nature of the incident.

However, a spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has been made aware of an incident which occurred during a Paramedic in Training course at the Rural College in Derrynoid.

“We would like to offer a full and unreserved apology to any person, or group, who may have been affected by the inappropriate and totally unacceptable behaviour of any member of our staff during this incident.”

He added: “A full and thorough investigation was immediately launched to identify those responsible in order that the incident could be dealt with through the appropriate internal policies.

“As a result of the initial disciplinary investigation process, NIAS has suspended from duty two members of staff. The investigation into the incident is continuing and, as such, NIAS is unable to make any further comment.”

Independent councillor for the Draperstown area, Patrick Eamon Groogan, said: “It was an unfortunate incident and it sounds as if it was something that just got out of hand.”

“We know from experience that this sort of thing can happen anywhere and as I understand it they were having a drink after they passed their exams as a celebration. That’s the culture we are in.

“I hope now that those involved have learned their lesson and I know that they have apologised to the college and offered to reimburse them with any financial incurrence for damage.”