No jail for father over son’s poor attendance

A father, who did not believe there was “any harm” in his teenage son skipping school for a year, has been spared a jail sentence.

Dublin District Court heard that as a last resort Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, had to bring proceedings against the man and his wife over serious concerns about the number of school days missed by their son, who is in his mid-teens.

Judge John O’Neill fined the father €300 and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the mother, who did not attend the court case for an eighth time.