Garda escort saves Limerick Leaving Cert from missing English Paper 1

Limerick Leaving Cert student Ian Fitzhenry had a lucky escape yesterday after a garda escort allowed him to make to the exam hall with just three minutes to spare.

Thu, 04 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Shaun Cronin

Ian, 17, had missed his bus and the CBS Sexton Street student called a taxi to get him to school so that he could do his English Paper 1 exam.

With the minutes ticking down Ian's taxi arrived, but traffic meant that he was in dire straits in terms of getting there on time.

Ian Fitzhenry. Picture: Brian Gavin

Spotting a garda car in his rear-view mirror the taxi driver frantically waved them down, and after hearing of the student's predicament, the kindly gardaí turned on the flashing blue lights to quickly lead him to the exams.

Ian made it thanks to both the gardaí and his driver with almost the minimum time remaining.

The rules state Ian would have been admitted up to 30 minutes after the exam had started, but no one wants to be late to start their Leaving Cert.

Speaking to Jimmy Woulfe of the Irish Examiner, school principal Tom Prendergast praised the work of all parties involved to get Ian there.

"It just highlights how important these exams are. The taxi driver was very quick to realise the terrible situation the student was in and with the help of the gardaí, got him to the exam just on time and it all ended well," said the principal.

You're a lucky boy Ian, best of luck in the rest of the exams.