Student who led budget protest avoids suspension

THE 17-year-old Leaving Certificate student who hit the headlines after leading a mass protest out of his school during class hours will not be suspended for his actions — provided he does not launch another campaign.

On Tuesday the student at Moyle Park College in Clondalkin, Dublin, led up to 20 other pupils to the constituency office of Government chief whip and local TD John Curran.

The teenagers were protesting over the cuts detailed in the budget and were joined by other pupils from local girls school Coláiste Bríde. In the immediate aftermath Moyle Park College principal Aiden Clarke accused the protest leader of “not being amenable to any direction and behaviour” and taking part in actions which “resulted in a serious health and safety risk”.