A woman who failed her first year in a nursing course at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology faces being jailed unless she complies with a court order preventing her from attending lectures.
The High Court heard from lawyers for GMIT that Anna Marie Flanagan, a mature student, began the nursing degree course offered by the college but failed to pass her first year examinations.
Despite failing, she began to attend second year classes and lectures. As she was no longer a registered student, the court heard she was not permitted to attend classes.
Ms Flanagan, with addresses at Kilmucklin, Tullamore and Upton House, Clara both in Co Offaly, was asked to desist from doing this but failed to do so.
Arising out of this in May 2011, GMIT obtained a High Court injunction restraining Ms Flanagan from attending lectures or classes given as part of the course at GMIT’s campus at Westport Road, Castlebar Co Mayo.
At the time Ms Flanagan agreed to comply with the orders which were granted by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy.
However, the court heard that on four occasions this month Ms Flanagan, who is no longer a registered student, arrived back on campus and began to attend third year lectures and classes offered as part of GMIT’s nursing degree course.
Ms Flanagan’s presence were described as being “quite disruptive,” to other students, it was claimed.
As a result, GMIT brought a motion today seeking to have Ms Flanagan brought before the court arising out of her alleged contempt of the orders against her.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross said he was satisfied to make an order directing that Ms Flanagan be arrested and brought before the court arising out of her alleged failure to stop attending lectures or any classwork given as part of the degree course
It is expected that Ms Flanagan will be brought before the court over the coming days.