Claims that children
living in Inishowen are being given Derry secondary
school places to the exclusion of local children are
being challenged in the High Court in Belfast.
The term for using false addresses when applying for
services in Derry has become known as "grannying" in
the city, the court heard.
There has been much criticism in recent years that
many of the hundreds of Derry people who moved
across the border to Donegal, still allegedly use
city addresses to avail of educational and health
services.
The High Court case is being brought by two 12
year-old girls whose offer of places at St.
Cecilia's College, Derry, were withdrawn.
Counsel for one of the girls, drew attention to the
school's admissions criteria which warned parents
that incorrect information, particularly concerning
the address given as the normal place of residence,
could result in the withdrawal of a place.
However, he said it appeared that no checks had been
made on the legitimacy of addresses and added: "My
solicitor has done so and indicates that some of
those granted places at St Cecilia's live in
Donegal."
Counsel for the other child added: "There is concern
that children resident outside, not just the parish
boundaries, but outside the jurisdiction, in the
Republic of Ireland, are being admitted to this
school."
The Lord Chief Justice said he was disposed to grant
leave for the application to proceed but he warned
that this "did not signify, in any way, the likely
outcome of the application". |
