Mother jailed for failing to make son attend school

THE body in charge of school attendance has said it only takes criminal proceedings against parents as a last resort after a mother-of-five was jailed for a month for failing to make her son go to classes.

The Dublin woman in her 30s was sentenced at Tallaght District Court to 30 days in prison – forcing her children into care – after it was heard her 15-year-old son had missed almost 70% of his school days from November 2008 to April this year.

The court heard of family difficulties and an abusive former partner but the presiding judge, James McDonnell, said the woman’s failings in relation to her son’s education were so severe that a jail sentence was warranted.