Parents of 12-year-old girl who missed 80% of school year to be arrested

A judge has ordered gardaí to arrest the parents of a 12-year-old girl after hearing she has missed more than 80% of the school year.

Previously, the parents of the same child who missed the entire first half of the current school year, were warned they would be jailed unless her attendance improved at the county Limerick school.

After hearing they were members of the Traveller community who went to Europe regularly, Newcastle West District Court Judge Mary Larkin said they were still legally obliged to have their child educated either while travelling abroad or through an approved home schooling programme.