Mother wins her appeal to reinstate special-needs son back into school

Mother wins her appeal to reinstate special-needs son back into school

By Maurice Garvey

A MOTHER has won an appeal to reinstate her special-needs son back into school after he was suspended last February for behavioural issues.

Emer Mullen battled for months to reinstate her son Marc (11), after he was suspended by Stewarts Hospital, in Palmerstown.

Emer Mullen and Marc 1 

In February, The Echo reported how the Ballyfermot community rallied to support Marc, a Down’s syndrome boy who has been out of school since before December, and was suspended on February 5.

His mother Emer Mullen took to social media after getting “nowhere” with the school authorities and appealed to the Department of Education.

This week, the department sent Emer a letter, which directs Stewarts Board of Management to contact her and “arrange for Marc’s return to school.”

Gurteen Road resident Emer said: “We’re delighted. I had to give a presentation to the panel in the department, which was intimidating, but they have upheld the appeal.

“Stewarts wanted to just provide one on one, but my proposal for more activities, and a psychology test – which he has never had – will give me a better say on his education. The school haven’t contacted me yet – if I haven’t heard from them by Friday, I’ll call them.”

Residents are hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, April 23, at 8pm, in the Ballyfermot Sports and Social Club, to raise funds for Marc’s speech and occupational therapy services.

“We had brilliant support from the community,” said Emer.

“The Sinn Féin office was great and nearly every business provided a raffle prize – two lads, David Reilly and Christopher Morrison, provided funds for Marc from the sale of a horse raffled off to stud.”

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