Students consider legal action over detention

A GROUP of students, set to be disciplined for leaving school to take part in the Irish Ferries protest last month, are considering legal action on the matter.

The three students of Árdscoil Rís in Limerick city have been told they must undergo detention this Saturday arising from their absence on the afternoon of December 9, when about 150,000 people took part in marches around the country in protest at the workers’ situation in Irish Ferries.

But the Union of Secondary Students (USS) said the Constitution protects everyone’s right to protest, regardless of their age.

Deputy president Oisín O’Reilly said: “We find it extremely hypocritical for union members to impose sanctions on students who were in attendance at a union-organised protest in solidarity.”

The three were notified of the disciplinary action last week and were to have served the detention last Saturday. But the punishment was deferred after the USS pointed out that parents must be given seven days’ notice.

The school claims the right to protest is not at issue but the students in question did not hand in notes signed by their parents to show they consented to their sons’ absences. This is contested by two of the students.

Principal Bríd de Brún was unreachable for comment yesterday but last week said it is school policy that students must have written permission from their parents or guardians to leave school grounds.