Wicklow pensioner ordered to pay €10 a week towards €22,000 school fees
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow pensioner, who told a court she has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, has been ordered to pay €10 a week towards €22,000 in outstanding private school fees.
Jacqueline Sababou, of The Green, Woodbrook Glen, Bray, appeared at a civil sitting of Bray District Court.
Solicitor for the applicants, Dermot Hickey, told the court that his clients, The John Scottus School, are owed €22,000 in outstanding school fees.
Both of Ms Sababou’s children attended the private secondary school, whose current annual fee is €6,615.
Ms Sababou gave evidence that she currently receives €230 a week from her pension.
She told the court that she was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness and was told by doctors that she has four years left to live.
The court heard that Mr Boulaem Sababou is currently unwell and is not in receipt of illness benefit or an old-age pension.
It was noted that, while her two children attended the school, Ms Sababou was allegedly told by a former headmaster that they could attend for free.
Judge Paula Cullinane enquired whether Ms Sababou’s children could help repay the outstanding fees.
The pensioner told the judge that one of her children works seasonally on a yacht, while the other is an English teacher, but neither earns enough to “help chip in”.
Judge Cullinane commented that the school “is getting a poor return on their investment”.
However, she ordered Ms Sababou to pay €10 a week towards the outstanding amount until the €22,000 debt is repaid.