A WOMAN who failed her first year exams for a nursing degree at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology faces being jailed unless she complies with a court order preventing her from attending lectures.
Yesterday, the High Court heard from lawyers for the institute that Anna Marie Flanagan, a mature student, started the nursing degree course. However, she failed to pass her first year examinations.
Despite failing the exams, she began to attend second year classes and lectures. As she was no longer a registered student, the court heard she was not permitted to attend classes. Ms Flanagan, with addresses at Kilmucklin, Tullamore and Upton House, Clara, both in Co Offaly, was asked to stop attending but failed to do so.
In May 2011 the institute obtained a High Court injunction restraining Ms Flanagan from attending lectures or classes given as part of the course at the campus at Westport Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo. At the time Ms Flanagan agreed to comply with the orders, granted by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy. However, the court heard on four occasions this month Ms Flanagan arrived back on campus and began to attend third year lectures and classes in the course.
Ms Flanagan’s presence was described as “quite disruptive” to other students, it was claimed.
The institute yesterday brought a motion seeking to have Ms Flanagan brought before the court arising out of her alleged contempt of the orders against her.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross said he was satisfied to make an order directing that Ms Flanagan be arrested and brought before the court due to her alleged failure to stop attending for the course.