Rowdy behaviour: St Patrick's College are investigating drunken behaviour from football supporters returning to Ballarat after a football match.
ST Patrick’s College will investigate drunken behaviour from football supporters returning to Ballarat by train after the school’s historic Herald Sun Shield victory on Sunday.
Passengers on the 6.08pm train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station called police to report about 25 young men in St Patrick’s clothing who were drunk and harassing other passengers.
One passenger who asked not to be named said police mistakenly escorted him from the train after he and his wife called 000 to report the rowdy behaviour.
“These young guys were drinking on the train and they were clearly very intoxicated and threatening to others,” the man said.
“One passenger had to go through them to get to the toilet and he was pushed and jeered at. They treated him like a pinball machine.”
The passenger followed police instructions to leave the train at Melton believing officers required him to answer questions, but instead he was told the train would continue to Ballarat without him.
“The whole carriage was scared by these guys and it was astounding that when police arrived they took me off the train and left these drunk guys on.”
Without his wallet or mobile phone, the man had to make his way to Ballarat on a later service without his wife and two young children.
St Patrick’s acting headmaster Chris Caldow said the behaviour was “unacceptable” and investigations were under way as to whether the young men were current or former students.
“The college understands that some current students and several former students may be implicated,” he said.
Officers at the Melton police station did not return requests for comment yesterday.
thomas.mcilroy@thecourier.com.au