Mother spent day outside Cork special school after son, 11, refused entry

Fiona O’Leary's son has autism, ADHD, and a moderate intellectual disability. Picture: Chani Anderson

A mother spent the day outside a Cork special school after her son was refused entry on Monday morning when it reopened after being closed for over a week.

Fiona O’Leary from Killeens said her son, who turned 11 on Sunday, was refused entry when she went to drop him off at Carrigaline Community Special School at around 9.45am.

She said she had received email correspondence over the weekend from the school, outlining that his needs could not be met at the school before a meeting with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) and Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNT).

However, Ms O'Leary says she replied to the email saying she would be taking her son to school on Monday, feeling it could not exclude him when it was reopening to other pupils. 

When she arrived at the school, after first dropping her daughter off at another school, the other pupils were already inside, and she said the gates were locked, preventing her and her son from entering.

Her son, who has autism, ADHD, and a moderate intellectual disability, “has high complex needs”, she says.

They spent the day outside the school until after 3pm, with his assistance dog. She says she has now been told he will be allowed back to school on Tuesday, after a room was cleared out to accommodate him.

He returns as a meeting is being held online on Tuesday between concerned parents, special education minister Michael Moynihan, and staff of the Department of Education, about issues at the school.

During last week’s closure, parents were told by the school’s patron, Cork Education and Training Board (ETB), that it needed to “work through a number of issues” after an incident on February 26 in which staff sustained injuries.

The school was previously highlighted for its "alarming” pattern of suspensions.

It opened in 2021 for children from four to 18 years of age who had a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability.

A spokesman for the department said it could not comment on individual cases but said the National Council for Special Education is available to support the family at local level.

He confirmed that Carrigaline Community Special School will be open to all students on Tuesday.

A statement from the Cork ETB said it does not comment on individual student matters.

It added: “As previously advised, Cork ETB, the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE continue to engage with the school on what additional supports may be necessary to support the school and families over the coming weeks.”