Courts / Ireland / Report

High Court challenge over decision to expel schoolboy for having knife

Summary

A High Court challenge has been filed by a secondary school student, represented through his mother, against a decision by a three‑person Section 29 Committee to uphold his expulsion for bringing a knife to school. The student, a second‑year pupil from a south‑of‑country secondary school, was expelled late last year. He appealed to the Department of Education, which appointed the committee. The committee upheld the expulsion. In the High Court, counsel Derek Shortall BL argued that the student was denied fair procedures, citing that a committee member was a former pupil of the school, creating a perceived conflict of interest. The advocate was dismissed by the committee member, who allegedly treated the mother and advocate disrespectfully and allowed the school to present its case before the mother finished. The student seeks to quash the decision, declare the committee's bias, and have his appeal remitted for fresh consideration.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: High Court challenge over decision to expel schoolboy for having knife. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• 2019-04-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report