Courts / Tipperary / Report

Supreme Court dismisses Traveller's appeal against school admissions policy

Date
2015-02-24

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Court
By Aodhan O'Faolain The Supreme Court

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

In 2015 the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Mrs. Mary Stokes, mother of John Stokes, who had been refused admission to CBS High School, Clonmel. The school's policy gave preference to children of former pupils, Catholics, and those who had attended a local feeder school. John met the latter two criteria but not the first, as his father had not attended the school. After a lottery he was not admitted and attended another school. Mrs. Stokes argued the policy discriminated against Traveller children. The Equality Tribunal found the rule disproportionately affected Travellers and ordered the school to offer John a place and review its policy. The school appealed to the Circuit Court, which set aside the Tribunal's order, and the case progressed through the High Court, where the decision was upheld. The Supreme Court held that there was insufficient evidence to show the rule caused a particular disadvantage to Travellers and therefore dismissed the appeal.