Galway Bay FM News Archives
JUDGE ADJOURNS CASE OF GALWAY SCHOOL TRUANT
Date Published: 06-Mar-2013
A District Court Judge has warned a 15-year-old boy who persistently skips school that his parents will take turns going in and out of prison if he does not attend school for the next month.
At Galway district court today, the court heard the boy did not want either of his parents to go to prison.
Judge Alan Mitchell adjourned the case until next month.
Judge Alan Mitchell heard evidence at Galway District Court yesterday from an Education Welfare officer with the National Education Welfare Board that the boy had missed 91 school days out of 114 this year alone and had a long history of truancy.
Hearing the boy, who comes from a Traveller family living in Galway, did not want to go back to school even though he had been made aware his parents could be jailed for a month, Judge Mitchell invited him to decide which of his parents should go to prison for his non attendance at school and he gave the boy 24 hours to reach his decision.
In court today, Judge Mitchell said he had given the boy time to decide which parent should go to prison and he now wanted his decision.
Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran said that while she understood the court’s sentiments she was not permitting the child to address the court because of his age.
She said he did not want either of his parents to go to prison and she had been assured by both the parents and the child that he would be attending school from today.
She said he would be reaching his 16th birthday towards the end of term and there would be other developments then.
Addressing the parents, the judge said, their son had to learn a lesson that the law had to be obeyed.
He agreed to adjourn sentencing in the matter to April 10 next, when
he will be sitting in Galway again.
He warned both parents to have their bags packed on that date if the boy was not in school in the interim because one of them, he said, would be going to jail that day.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway has country’s largest population of young people
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Call for direct donations to city charity shops
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway ‘Park and Ride’ could become permanent
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.