James and Lucy Duffy, "delighted with the decision"
A County Leitrim couple has won a Circuit Court appeal against their second conviction for refusing to send their son to school. James and Lucy Duffy of Drumkeeran have not sent their son, Rory, to school since 1995.The boy is now almost 13.
Originally the family claimed that allegations of bullying and a medical problem were the reason that they kept their son from school. In Boyle Circuit Court today they claimed a constitutional right to educate their son at home.
Judge Anthony Kennedy described their efforts of at home education as "incompetent and inept". He would not allow the appeal on that basis. However, he said, he would allow the appeal on the basis of a breakdown of trust between the school and the home. He said this amounted to sufficient cause not to send Rory to school. The Duffys said they were delighted with the decision.
