Pupils at St Colm’s High School are expected to return to school today following the fifth bomb scare at the premises in a fortnight.

Around 700 pupils were sent home yesterday after police received a report that a device had been found at the west Belfast school.

St Colm’s High School in Twinbrook has been victim to a series of security alerts over the past two weeks which have caused extensive disruption for staff, pupils and their parents.

A decision was taken to send the pupils home just after 10am yesterday following an assessment from Army Technical Officers.

A controlled explosion was carried out and the incident was declared a hoax by police.

The school’s principal, Imelda Jordon, had hoped to resume classes but bomb experts estimated that it would have taken at least two hours before they could have made the school safe.

Those children who had made their way to St Luke’s Parish following the alert were then told to go home.

Speaking outside the Twinbook Parish after the controlled explosion, Ms Jordon told the Belfast Telegraph yesterday that she was “disgusted” the school had once again been targeted.

She said: “I’m absolutely devastated. My business is the business of education and I find myself in this situation because of the revolting actions of a few people.

“We are not able to get the pupils and staff into classes. I feel nothing but sadness. The pupils here have been wonderful and they are disgusted as they wanted to go to school. I know their parents are also disgusted.”

Asked if she wanted to issue an appeal to those behind the alerts, Ms Jordon said: “I don’t think there is a message that would get through to these people.”

Collette Forsyth, a mother from Poleglass with a 12-year-old son at the school, said: “I live close by so I was able to come down and get my son but many other parents don’t. I think the disruption is terrible.”

A visit to the school in September by the Royal Marines to do team-building exercises with pupils may be linked to the security alerts.

Mrs Jordon said the visit had been arranged to enhance the students’ education.