Parents of boy fined €1,200 over absenteeism

The parents of a 15-year-old boy have been fined €1,200 after their son failed to attend school in what was described as a “chronic level of absenteeism”.

The truancy offence was one of three separate cases at Newcastle West District Court, Co Limerick, brought by the National Educational Welfare Board.

A solicitor, pleading for leniency, said the parents were “both on social welfare” and had a limited household income.