*Photograph: Gary Collins

A JUDGE has warned the parents of a Co Clare school-shy boy that they face jail after commenting that their son “has been missing from school for most of his life”.

At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett sounded the warning after being told that the child has missed 81 percent of school days since last November.

In the case, TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency (CFA) is prosecuting the boy’s parents over their failure to abide by their legal requirement to have their son attend his school under the Education Welfare Act 2000.

Judge Gabbett said the 81 percent absence was due to a move by the family and the mother said “we were homeless” at the time.

He said, “This is another case giving me huge concern. This child has had no education effectively for the last three years”.

Solicitor for TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, Dermot O’Donovan said that this is the 14th time that the case has come before the court.

Judge Gabbett said, “I am not taking this anymore – this has to be dealt with – this is a case where the parents will ultimately go into custody if they don’t behave themselves”.

Judge Gabbett said, “I have to say to you that I read this report before court and it put me into exceptionally bad form. It really, really upsets me to see a child not attending school at this level. We have the finest free educational system in the world and this child does not attend school for reasons have still not been proffered to the court.

He said that the boy’s school attendance “is exceptionally bad”.

Judge Gabbett said that the boy’s school absence for 4th class was 87 percent for third class 46 percent for fifth class was 25 percent and for sixth class was 31 percent and now this year at 81 percent.

Judge Gabbett said, “He has been missing from school for most of his life from what I can see”.

Mr O’Donovan agreed and said, “That is true”.

Mr O’Donovan said that the boy has fallen behind and Judge Gabbett said, “He seems a bright boy who would do well in school and that is the tragedy”.

Judge Gabbett said that “it is impossible to progress through life without an education”.

He asked, “What are we going to do about this case?

Addressing solicitor for the parents, Patrick Moylan, Judge Gabbett said, “Mr Moylan – I can’t emphasise enough how serious this case is”.

Mr O’Donovan said that there is already a conviction in relation to the couple’s daughter for the failure to get her to attend his school under the Education Welfare Act 2000.

Mr O’Donovan said, “There was a large fine imposed – I don’t know if it was paid or not”.

He said, “The difficulty is that punishing the parents really doesn’t resolve the education of the child”.

Mr Moylan said that the boy is now up at 6am every morning to get a bus to his school and his school attendance has been 100 percent over the last two weeks.

Mr O’Donovan suggested adjourning the case to May and it could be entered at any time before then if there is any back-sliding.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to March 26th and said, “I want 100 percent attendance”.

Related News

kilrush town hall
Commitment sought for projects to aid Kilrush's economic growth
ballyalla 14-03-25 1
Multi-million euro investment part of 'significant plans' for Ballyalla
lisdoonvarna post office 1-2
Lisdoonvarna wins fight to keep its post office open
airline crew shannon 1
Heathrow shutdown shows dangers of over-reliance on airports like Dublin

Advertisement

Latest News
ballyalla 14-03-25 1
Multi-million euro investment part of 'significant plans' for Ballyalla
virtue shine 1-2
Sustainable creativity promoted through sewing workshops
bridge utd v kilkishen celtic 23-03-25 alan mulready 1-2
Bridge & Avenue keeping the pressure on Newmarket
lisdoonvarna post office 1-2
Lisdoonvarna wins fight to keep its post office open
airline crew shannon 1
Heathrow shutdown shows dangers of over-reliance on airports like Dublin
Premium
clare v westmeath 15-02-25 áine o'loughlin 6
Áine wants silverware for Clare camogie
clare v cork u20 26-03-25 michael collins 1
Clare & Cork finish all square in Munster U20 opener
killaloe bridge 1
Shannon Bridge Crossing & R494 upgrade on target for mid-2025 completion
lifford v tulla utd 07-05-23 13
Tulla claim semi-final spot while big rivals Avenue & Newmarket face off
clare v offaly 23-03-25 brian mcnamara 1
Brian Mc rising above for Clare in 'more exciting' role for midfielders

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement