Ruane under fire for taking daughter out of school

The North's Education Minister is under fire for taking her 12-year-old-child out of school for three days to go on an official trip to Cyprus.

Caitriona Ruane's department officially says parents should not take their children out of school during term time.

However, the Sinn Féin politician has confirmed a newspaper report that she took her daughter out of school to accompany her on a visit to Cyprus.

The minister was there to speak about the challenges of conflict resolution, but paid for her daughter's air fare.

Ms Ruane has accused the newspaper of a “dreadful attack” on her family's privacy and says she is a mother as well as a minister and will make her own decisions.