Father issues legal warning over school bus ban on Catholics

THE father of two Limerick teenagers who were refused passes on a public school bus serving the Protestant school they attend because they are Catholic yesterday issued a legal warning to the education authorities.

Meanwhile, the senior official in charge of public school bus transport in Limerick has stood by her decision to refuse access to Catholics on the bus provided for Protestants attending Villiers School.

Deirdre Frawley, school transport liaison officer for Limerick, said access to the bus, which is to travel from Adare to Villiers from next month is based on entitlement.

Since Villiers is the only Protestant post-primary school in Limerick, she said Protestant children are entitled to exclusive access to the bus.

She said: “There is special provision for Protestant children. The school transport service is based on entitlement and being eligible for that entitlement. There could be a denominational aspect in determining that entitlement.”

Ms Frawley is also chief executive officer of Limerick city Vocational Education Committee (VEC). However, the VEC has no responsibility for Villiers.

Harry Gleeson, who lives at Caher Road, Mungret, sought bus passes for his son and daughter but was turned down because they are not Protestants.

High-profile solicitor John Devane, yesterday wrote to Ms Frawley on Mr Gleeson’s behalf, and warned that he would refer the matter to the appropriate statutory authorities.

His letter stated: “Please confirm immediately by return that my client’s children will be allowed use the said bus and failing which it is my instructions to issue proceedings against you as chief executive officer of Limerick VEC and also as transport liaison officer, referred to in the letter (of refusal), the subject matter of this complaint.”

He said copies of his letter will be sent to the ministers for education and transport and any other statutory bodies with an interest in the matter.