DUNMORE STUDENT GETS COMPENSATION FOR DISCRIMINATION

Date Published: 17-Feb-2009

A former student of Dunmore Community School, has been awarded three and a half thousand euro in compensation after he was suspended from school in his Leaving Cert year for refusing to cut his hair.The case - which dates back to 2004 - was taken by the boy's mother on his behalf and the Equality Tribunal ruled that he had been discriminated against and victimised.David Knott was a Leaving Cert Student at Dunmore Community School for the 2004/2005 school year.He was told he had a "girl's hair style" by the Deputy Principal at the school.He was then told by the Prinicipal, Mr. Gilmore, to cut his hair or go to another school.David cut his hair, but on returning to school, a barber was hired by the school to measure its length and he was told it was still too long.David missed sitting his "mock" exams while on suspension and eventually moved to another school to sit his Leaving Cert.David's mother, Mary Knott brought a complaint to the Equality Tribunal.The Equality Tribunal ruled that he was victimised and discriminated against by Dunmore Community School.