Daughter must go to school

A mother has been warned she faces jail unless she manages to send her 15-year-old daughter to school in what the court heard was among “the worst” school attendance records ever to come before the courts.

The Polish woman had breached a notice under the Education Welfare Act of Feb 27 last, that she send her daughter to school, Killarney District Court was told.

Solicitor for the National Education Welfare Board said there was “a chronic level of absenteeism”.

The child had begun second-level school in Killarney in 2011, and in that school year to 2012 had recorded a 94% absenteeism level, the following school year there was a 95% level of absenteeism and this current year it was 100%.

The mother, speaking through an interpreter, said she had tried everything to get her daughter to attend school and to liaise with other services.

“I really don’t know what to do,” she said.

Judge James O’Connor adjourned the matter to Nov 5, warning the woman “you could find yourself in jail”.