We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated 13.42
A JUDGE HAS ruled that a school in Clonmel, Co Tipperary was within its rights to reject a local Traveller because his father was not a past pupil.
The Christian Brothers High School had appealed an Equality Tribunal decision last year that it should offer 13-year-old John Stokes a place. He was refused because his father had not attended the school but the Tribunal ruled this indirectly discriminated against Travellers. Judge Thomas Teehan had reserved judgement on the case, but today ruled in favour of the school at Clonmel Circuit Court, RTÉ reports.
The court was told earlier this month that the school accepted students based on three criteria – being Catholic, having attended a local primary school and having a father or older sibling who was a past pupil. John Stokes met the first two but not the third. The school was oversubscribed and he was turned down.
Lawyers for his mother Mary had argued that this discriminated unfairly against Travellers, the Irish Times reported, because their relatives were less likely to have completed post-primary education.
The school had argued that this did not constitute discrimination, as 83 other children had also been rejected because their parents had not attended, RTÉ reported.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
We are one of the “lucky ones” who have managed to secure a place for September only a year late. If this was typical children , with a whole year of primary education lost, heads would roll. I’m so relieved we have a school place for the the upcoming September but I also feel guilt for having a place when so many others don’t. Everything about this proposal irks me but most of all the fact that they are centres and not schools. Children want to go to school. Even children with special needs.
Madigan and Foley are incompetent self serving liars who should resign.
Through section 37a of the schools admissions act which allows the ministers to compel schools to set up special classes they have had the authority to resolve this for years.
They opposed it existing, watered down the original version of the law and have underused and abused it ever since.
They do not care and this latest “I could fix it but let’s segregate you kids and deny them their right to an appropriate education just cos” proves that point.
If the solution is a short term fix, that’s ok and better than nothing.
However if it is the schools and the department messing it about that’s different altogether.
I always look to the departments to see they why things are going wrong. Most ministers read what they are handed as the reason something cannot happen or is not happening at present.
have your say