Protest student may be expelled
On Tuesday the pupil from Dublin’s Moyle Park College in Clondalkin organised a march by up to 20 of his fellow pupils to the office of Government chief whip John Curran to protest at education cutbacks.
This afternoon the student faces a meeting of his school’s disciplinary board, accused of “not being amenable to any direction and behaviour” which “resulted in a serious health and safety risk”. If the board, which includes the school principal and deputy principal, decide against him the young man, described as a “model student”, faces possible expulsion.
Yesterday, the school was inundated with callers demanding they reconsider disciplinary action against the student after a Facebook campaign in his support gained over 1,500 supporters.
Explaining his actions the young man said: “I’ve been suspended from school and must face a disciplinary board meeting to decide what should happen to me.
“I simply explained to my mates what was involved in the cutbacks and how they would affect our futures and they decided to support a protest and organise a union.”
On budget day the school attempted to halt the protest and locked the students in the school building. Around 20 pupils evaded teachers and left the school where they were joined outside Mr Curran’s office by a larger group of female students from nearby Coláiste Bríde.
The Leaving Certificate student added: “I’ve never got into trouble at school and my grades are pretty good as well. I’m getting expelled just because people are afraid of what I think is a rightful reason to protest.”
