Parents help special school to re-open after costly raid

A SPECIAL school targeted by thieves who robbed thousands of euros worth of computers and hi-tech equipment will re-open next week.

Parents have clubbed together to clean up and organise the three special classrooms at Scoil Mhuire in Wexford town. Computers, palm held technology and specialist CD walkmans were taken in the raid on the school a week ago.

The school will re-open on Tuesday, despite the raid, according to parent Susan Murphy whose son Evan attends Scoil Mhuire.

Among the items taken in the raid was seven-year-old Evan’s specially programmed, voice activated, palm held computer, which acted as his voice. By touching pictures on the computer screen, a pre-programmed voice spoke for him.

“The computer was his only way of communicating with the outside world,” his distraught mother said.

Following an appeal in the Irish Examiner for the stolen items to be returned, Microsoft Ireland was in touch with the school, offering to replace Evan’s computer. And a local business man has offered to alarm the three prefab buildings for free.

“The children are going back on Tuesday morning, as planned. We won’t let a raid like this break us. We’ve been through too much and have worked too hard for this school to throw in the towel.

“The teachers are getting the curriculum together and we’ve all done our part in getting things ready for the new school year,” Susan said.

“I work in the local hospital here and the orderlies have been telling me they want to organise a table quiz to raise money to replace some of the stolen items. This raid could have broken us. But instead it has heightened the sense of community here even further.”

Gardaí in Wexford say they are following a definite line of inquiry.