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Jack Frost · 09-07-2006, 10:34 AM

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/story.asp?j=4583

Banned from bus due to their religion
By Niamh Hennessy

IT RESEMBLES a scene from years ago in the deep south of the US when black people were segregated from white people on buses.

But the difference is that this scene is set in modern-day Ireland and the people in question are two Catholic school children who have been refused seats on the school bus. Why?

Because of their religion.

The two children attend the local Protestant school in Limerick and were uncertain throughout the summer if they would have seats on the school bus when the new term began.

The news sparked outrage in Ireland and forced Government Ministers to call for an investigation into the matter. The situation has now been resolved and the students were eventually given seats on the bus. But they didn?t get them without a fight.

The saga began when Limerick business consultant Harry Gleeson and his wife Bernadette received a letter from their local Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) informing them their application for school bus passes for their two teenage children had been denied because they are not Protestant.

The couple?s children, Edmond aged 17 ? who is entering his Leaving Cert year this autumn ? and his 15-year-old sister Margaret ? who will be entering her Transition Year ? have been attending Villiers School on Limerick?s North Circular Road for several years.

And the school ? which is predominantly Protestant but has students of other faiths ? is offering students a new free bus service to and from the school this autumn that will pass close to the Gleeson home.

But when Mr Gleeson sent an application form for the free passes he received the rejection letter from the VEC?s Transport Liaison Officer, Deirdre Frawley informing him that they were ineligible for the bus passes on religious grounds.

The letter stated: ?Villiers School is a school under Protestant management and only children of Protestant denominations have an entitlement to transport on the Special Adare Villiers School Bus Service.?

Mr Gleeson said he rang the VEC out of disbelief after receiving the letter and was effectively told ?that?s just the way it is?.

Mr Gleeson, a Catholic, said he was amazed that a public body could send out such a letter.

He said he could not understand why his son and daughter cannot go on the bus because they are not Protestants.

The transport liaison officer, Deirdre Frawley, who is also chief executive officer of Limerick City VEC has refused to comment.

Mr Gleeson said: ?To me it?s stating quite clearly if you?re Catholic, you?re gone.

?This is a multi-cultural and multi-denominational school and our kids are very happy there. These kids grow up in a culture where there is no distinction between religion and races and we?re offended that someone on this committee is saying they are different. In this day and age this is crazy.?

Mr Gleeson said he is now considering lodging a case with the Equality Authority under the Equal Status Act which outlaws discrimination on the basis of religion.

Meanwhile, the City of Limerick VEC has distanced itself from the row. Solicitors for the VEC said the matter has never been within the remit of the educational body.

O?Donnell and Son ? acting for the board of the VEC ? said the letter from its CEO Ms Frawley, which sparked the controversy, was sent in error on VEC notepaper. She had been acting in her separate capacity as transport liaison officer and different notepaper should have been used.

09-07-2006, 10:34 AM
Jack Frost Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 301	http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/story.asp?j=4583 Banned from bus due to their religion By Niamh Hennessy IT RESEMBLES a scene from years ago in the deep south of the US when black people were segregated from white people on buses. But the difference is that this scene is set in modern-day Ireland and the people in question are two Catholic school children who have been refused seats on the school bus. Why? Because of their religion. The two children attend the local Protestant school in Limerick and were uncertain throughout the summer if they would have seats on the school bus when the new term began. The news sparked outrage in Ireland and forced Government Ministers to call for an investigation into the matter. The situation has now been resolved and the students were eventually given seats on the bus. But they didn?t get them without a fight. The saga began when Limerick business consultant Harry Gleeson and his wife Bernadette received a letter from their local Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) informing them their application for school bus passes for their two teenage children had been denied because they are not Protestant. The couple?s children, Edmond aged 17 ? who is entering his Leaving Cert year this autumn ? and his 15-year-old sister Margaret ? who will be entering her Transition Year ? have been attending Villiers School on Limerick?s North Circular Road for several years. And the school ? which is predominantly Protestant but has students of other faiths ? is offering students a new free bus service to and from the school this autumn that will pass close to the Gleeson home. But when Mr Gleeson sent an application form for the free passes he received the rejection letter from the VEC?s Transport Liaison Officer, Deirdre Frawley informing him that they were ineligible for the bus passes on religious grounds. The letter stated: ?Villiers School is a school under Protestant management and only children of Protestant denominations have an entitlement to transport on the Special Adare Villiers School Bus Service.? Mr Gleeson said he rang the VEC out of disbelief after receiving the letter and was effectively told ?that?s just the way it is?. Mr Gleeson, a Catholic, said he was amazed that a public body could send out such a letter. He said he could not understand why his son and daughter cannot go on the bus because they are not Protestants. The transport liaison officer, Deirdre Frawley, who is also chief executive officer of Limerick City VEC has refused to comment. Mr Gleeson said: ?To me it?s stating quite clearly if you?re Catholic, you?re gone. ?This is a multi-cultural and multi-denominational school and our kids are very happy there. These kids grow up in a culture where there is no distinction between religion and races and we?re offended that someone on this committee is saying they are different. In this day and age this is crazy.? Mr Gleeson said he is now considering lodging a case with the Equality Authority under the Equal Status Act which outlaws discrimination on the basis of religion. Meanwhile, the City of Limerick VEC has distanced itself from the row. Solicitors for the VEC said the matter has never been within the remit of the educational body. O?Donnell and Son ? acting for the board of the VEC ? said the letter from its CEO Ms Frawley, which sparked the controversy, was sent in error on VEC notepaper. She had been acting in her separate capacity as transport liaison officer and different notepaper should have been used.