Parents may face jail as boy misses school for two years

A judge has warned a 13-year-old boy who persistently skips school — attending just four days in three years — that both his parents will be sent to prison if he does not attend school in September.

Judge Dermot Dempsey had heard evidence at Balbriggan District Court that the boy, who cannot be identified as he is underage, had only attended four days at school in 2011 and no days in 2012. He has not attended school at all this year.

The case is being taken by the National Education Welfare Board.