Mother says home schooling law ‘unjust’

A mother-of-six jailed for refusing to pay a fine for not registering her children for home schooling has said she believes she has a constitutional right to educate her children without assessment by the State.

Monica O’Connor, 47, was arrested at her home in Tullow, Co Carlow, by appointment at 7.20am yesterday and brought to Mountjoy Prison, but was granted temporary release shortly before 1pm.

She and her husband Eddie O’Neill, 49, were found guilty last year of failing to cause their children to attend school after they refused to register them for home schooling.