Courts / Ireland / Report

Students involved in "white powder" video secure injunctions allowing them return to school

Summary

In November 2018 the High Court granted injunctions allowing two Leaving Certificate students to return to school while their case against the school's board of management was pending. The students had filmed and posted a video of a fellow pupil snorting white powder, which the school said threatened order and discipline. The board had preliminarily decided to exclude them, a decision the students challenged as unfair, disproportionate and flawed. Justice Max Barrett ruled that the injunctions would permit the students to attend school for the current academic year, noting that the incident involved no illegal substance and that the students' future education was at stake. He acknowledged that the disciplinary process would continue and that the injunction did not alter the board's authority. The board sought an appeal and a stay, but the court declined to grant one and awarded the students legal costs for the injunction application.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Students involved in "white powder" video secure injunctions allowing them return to school. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• 2018-11-21 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

Read the original CNI report