A High Court challenge has been brought over a decision by a three-person committee set up by the Department of Education to uphold the expulsion of a secondary school student for bringing a knife to school.

The Government has moved to close off a legal loophole which threatened to wreck prosecutions against dissident republicans and other alleged criminals.

A Secondary school has today appealed against a directive by a Department of Education committee requiring it to enrol a child who is a member of a criminal family.