The mother of a Down's Syndrome boy has said she would rather go to prison than send her son to a special school for children with disabilities. Belfast Magistrates' Court yesterday adjourned a summons on Ms Gail McKibben, of Lower Clara Crescent, Belfast, for not sending her son, David (13), to Torbank Special School.
Ms McKibben has been tea ching him at home since September 1996 after Belfast Edu cation and Library Board de creed that he must attend Torbank as opposed to a main stream secondary school.
"It is David's wish and mine," she said, "that he attend the same secondary school as his former primary school classmates, and there is a local secondary school willing to take him. I am prepared to go to prison if necessary."
She has been supported by several organisations, including Disability Action. The summons against her was adjourned until January 27th.