€750 award over school’s discrimination
February 18, 2014
Parents complained that Gaelscoil had treated Church of Ireland pupil unfairly.
Parents of a Church of Ireland pupil who complained about less favourable treatment shown to their son by a Gaelscoil have been awarded €750 by the Equality Tribunal.The mother and father complained on behalf of the boy that he was discriminated against by the national school on religious grounds in contravention of equal status legislation. They claimed he received unfair treatment as he was of the Church of Ireland faith and a majority of other pupils were Catholics.
Interdenominational
The school had informed the parents initially that the school was interdenominational in ethos but that only Catholic and Church of Ireland faiths would be taught.The parents alleged that their son remained in class while a considerable amount of time was spent preparing Catholic children for First Holy Communion. They later questioned why Catholic religious instruction was being offered and were told by the principal that as the two faiths were 95 per cent the same, the education offered would be sufficient for both.
Their son did not attend the First Holy Communion ceremony and the parents allege their son was treated less favourably by the school as a result and treated as if he had done something wrong.The boy did not attend Confirmation for the Catholic pupils at a later date and they alleged that the principal again treated their son less favourably, though not in the same manner as before. In its written submission the school defended its ethos and practices and contradicted some of the claims made by the parents concerning the principal.
Unreserved apology
On the day of the hearing the chairman of the board of management made an unreserved apology in relation to the alleged behaviour of the principal. The tribunal found that the boy had been treated less favourably and accepted the parents had produced prima facie evidence of discrimination. Its judgment records the fact that the parents’ daughter is also attending the school and no issues have arisen in relation to her treatment. The tribunal awarded €750 to the parents. The school was ordered to review its policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with the provisions of the Equal Status Acts and to place a notice to this effect in a prominent position within the school.
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