By Conor Sharkey

A summer of uncertainty lies ahead for a Strabane mother battling to keep her disabled daughter in school.

Monday should be a day of celebration for Pamela Loughrey of Ballycolman Estate, Strabane, as her daughter Leah turns 19.

Instead, Pamela will spend the day wondering just what the future holds for her youngest daughter, who was left badly brain damaged following a car accident in 2004.

Last February, Leah began attending Knockavoe Special Needs School, where she has since developed incredible bonds with both pupils and staff.

But those bonds were thrown into jeopardy late last year, when Pamela was informed that her daughter's place at the school would be terminated on June 27 (tomorrow).

Since then, Pamela has campaigned tirelessly for her daughter to be allowed to continue her education at Knockavoe.

And in February, it appeared that her tenacity had paid off, when she received a letter informing her that Leah's educational circumstances would continue as normal from September.

However in a cruel twist of fate, a second letter arrived in April, informing Pamela that a mistake had been made and Leah's place at Knockavoe would not be available next year.

It was a hammer blow for the family, and for Leah, the options open after Knockavoe appear extremely limited. A place at Glenside Adult Training Centre has become available, as has a place at Foyle Resource Centre, Derry. But according to the teenager's mother, neither facility would be suitable, leaving her faced with possibly having to move to Belfast.

And while things for the Loughreys are today at best uncertain, Pamela has vowed to continue her campaign to keep her daughter in school locally.

"We have been offered places at Glenside and Foyle Resource Centre, but neither have the resources or facilities she needs. If she is forced into one of these places, I can see her going back into herself and not interacting with anyone. With Leah, if she doesn't like you, she will kick out and become frustrated and I would be worried she could end up somewhere worse like Gransha. We are in a desperate situation and are really living day to day at the minute, not knowing what is happening," Pamela said.

"At Knockavoe, she is doing brilliantly, so why can't she stay there? The teachers and the pupils are dying about her and she gets home a few hours each day to enjoy a bit of family life.

"So it seems the right thing to do when she has made such progress is to keep her there for another year. She deserves the chance to stay at Knockavoe after all she has been through.

"The teachers are disgusted and are breaking their hearts at the thought of Leah leaving. They don't want her to go and tomorrow is going to be such a sad day for us all.

"I'm not hopeful that this will be resolved and she will be back at Knockavoe next year, but I won't stop fighting on her behalf," Pamela said.

Meanwhile, it is understood MP Pat Doherty is trying to arrange an urgent meeting with Western Trust officials to discuss the case.