A SURVIVOR of the Holocaust paid a visit to St Gregory’s Catholic High School to share his heart-wrenching experience.

Tomi Komoly, who is originally from Budapest, was forced to hide in family friends’ houses and foreign embassies when the Nazis gained control of his homeland in 1944.

He shared his memories with the year nine pupils for more than an hour, recounting how his life changed dramatically when he was forced to wear a yellow star and was the victim of various forms of persecution.

He and his mother survived the final years of the war by refusing to enter the Budapest ghetto, instead hiding in ‘safe houses’ under the care of sympathetic friends.

His mother escaped deportation to a concentration camp by refusing to enter the train and by running from the line, narrowly escaping bullets being fired in her direction.

The talk was organised in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust, which aims to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and the important lessons that need to be learned.

Mr Egan, history teacher and literacy coordinator at the school off Cromwell Avenue, said pupils and staff were delighted to welcome Tomi to share his heat-breaking experience.

He said: “Year nine students, who have studied the event in detail in both history and RE lessons this year, listened intently to Tomi and fully understood the message of unity, reflection and remembrance he was putting across.

“Following Tomi’s account, there was a lengthy question and answer session in which many mature and thought provoking questions were put to Tomi.

“A thought provoking experience was had by all.”