Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21225School non-attendance (Tusla prosecution) · Co. Limerick

Mother's school attendance prosecution adjourned at Kilmallock Court

The mother of an 11-year-old boy was prosecuted by Tusla over his non-attendance at a primary school in Limerick, and she cannot be named to protect the child's identity. At a sitting in October 2022, the court heard his last day at school was in early 2020, and Judge Patricia Harney said she would jail the mother and put the children into foster care if it was the only way to get the child to school. At a later Kilmallock Court sitting, reported on 5 May 2023, a Tusla employee said he had missed four of the last 37 school days, three of them due to sickness, and the mother's solicitor committed to having him in school the following Monday. The latest development is that the case was adjourned until July for a further update on his school attendance.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court5 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Tusla prosecuted the boy's mother over his non-attendance at a primary school in Limerick.
Where
The non-attendance was at a primary school in Limerick, and the case was heard at Kilmallock Court.
When
At a sitting in October 2022, the court heard the boy's last day at school was in early 2020.
Other details
  • The boy is 11 years old and had attended 180 days of school in his whole life, according to the report.
  • Reporting restrictions apply to any information that could identify the child or his family.
  • The mother cannot be named to protect the identity of the child.
In court
  • A Tusla employee told the court the boy had missed four of the last 37 school days.
  • The mother's solicitor committed to having the boy in school the following Monday.
  • Judge Patricia Harney said she would jail the mother and put the children into foster care if it was the only way to get the child to school.
  • The judge adjourned the case until July for a further update on the boy's school attendance.
Cause
Three of the four missed days were due to sickness.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported in the case.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe boy's mother was prosecuted by Tusla over her son's non-attendance at a primary school in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe non-attendance was at a primary school in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe court heard at a sitting last October that the boy's last day at school was in early 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtAt the Kilmallock court sitting, a Tusla employee said the boy had missed four of the last 37 days, three of them due to sickness. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe mother's solicitor committed to having the boy in school the following Monday. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the case until July for a further update on the boy's school attendance. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said she would jail the mother and put the children into foster care if it was the only way to get the child to school. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherReporting restrictions apply to any information that could identify the child or his family. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 May2023
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Pupil’s attendance rate at Limerick school improves following court prosecution

    Reports a court update: the boy has missed four of the last 37 school days, and the case was adjourned to July for a further update on attendance.

    accusedvictim, 11, male