Courts

Parents of girl who missed 81 days of school avoid jail

Judge hears girl’s attendance record has improved greatly in new term

Judge John O’Neill heard at Dublin District Court that a girl’s school attendance record has improved greatly since the new term began, after she had been absent for 81 days in the 2013-2014 school year. Photograph: Reuters
Judge John O’Neill heard at Dublin District Court that a girl’s school attendance record has improved greatly since the new term began, after she had been absent for 81 days in the 2013-2014 school year. Photograph: Reuters
Tue Sept 30 2014 - 09:21

The parents of a teenage girl who did not turn up for classes on 81 days in the last school year avoided jail terms yesterday.

Judge John O’Neill heard at Dublin District Court that the girl’s school attendance record has improved greatly since the new term began.

However, he warned the parents, who were prosecuted by the Child and Family Agency, they would face the threat of prison if the situation deteriorates again.

The girl was not in class for 81 school days from September 2013 until July last. In the previous year, she was absent on 110 days.

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Last July, Judge O’Neill told the parents their daughter deserved an education and he warned them he would jail them if the attendance record did not improve.