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Pupil's father battles the 'Gaeilge Taliban'

Jason O'Brien

THE father of a young Russian pupil fighting to have her taught in English at her school in the Gaeltacht, has started a case with the Equality Tribunal.

John Ferriter has also claimed that parents of Irish children attending the same school are too intimidated to support him, saying he is battling the "Irish-language Taliban".

His step-daughter Anastasia Lyamina (15) completed her Junior Certificate in June after studying at Meansceal na Toirbhite in Dingle for over two years.

As she was aged 13 when she started, she was exempt from learning Irish, but her school will amalgamate with the local CBS from next term and all the lessons will be in Gaeilge.

As it stands, she will have to take all her lessons in Irish or undertake a 60-mile round-trip every day to study in Tralee.

But Mr Ferriter said a number of other parents have told him they are also not happy that the new school will teach in Irish. "They said 'we're all in the same boat' and I said, 'if you are, then come out with me'. But they won't because they're afraid of the backlash against their businesses or a backlash against their kids at school. This is Ireland in 2007. It's like Irish-language Taliban around here and no one will stand up to them."

The Department of Education is examining the case and it is preparing a reply after Mr Ferriter contacted the Ombudsman for Children. He has also started an action with the Equality Tribunal, but that could take up to three years."I have so many organisations and groups say that it must be very frustrating but nobody will do anything about it. Nobody cares," he said. "If something doesn't happen soon it'll be interesting. If she doesn't go to school, she's under 16 so as far as I know I goes to jail. Children under 16 must go to school and I'm not sending her back there to stew."

"We're in limbo coming up to the end of the holidays. Do I pay for a bus to Tralee and pay for one to Dingle to keep my options open? Am I meant to pay for two uniforms?

"In the constitution, it says that parents have a right and a duty to provide an education for their children. Well, I'm being denied the right and I'm being obstructed from the opportunity. It's farcical."

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