Hairstyle rows ‘unlikely to get to courts’

THERE is no case law and little likelihood of cases about school uniforms or suitable hairstyles coming before the courts, an education law expert said last night.

Barrister Oliver Mahon’s comments followed an Offaly school’s decision not to allow three Junior Certificate students sit their exams there on Thursday because their hair was too short when they started their exams the day before. Instead, they were facilitated at a school 12km away although one of them, Enda Carroll, chose not to do so.

The tensions were somewhat eased when the three were offered the option of doing the exam at an exam centre in the school yesterday, but separate from their classmates. However, at least one of the families involved is considering legal options in relation to the matter at Tullamore College.