Strip-searched Quebec girl can’t return to high school where it happened: Court

The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - The lawyer for a teen girl who was strip-searched at a Quebec City high school says she’s lost her bid to return to the institution.

The girl had sought an injunction, challenging the suspension and allowing her to return to the Neufchatel High School, which had suspended her in the wake of the search.

Family lawyer Francois David Bernier says a Quebec Superior Court judge rejected the request Monday.

Bernier says the girl and her family are disappointed, but will drop the injunction request and abide by the court ruling.

The lawyer says the girl will attend a school for students with learning problems to finish her year.

He says it’s not what the girl wanted and the family is keeping a close watch to ensure she doesn’t drop out.

The incident last month sparked outrage right across the country after the girl told a local paper she felt violated by the search.

The school proceeded with the search after officials suspected her of selling drugs.

The local school board says officials followed government regulations when it conducted the search, but the family lawyer countered the school went too far.

The Quebec government has ordered a independent investigation into the incident.

© The Canadian Press, 2015

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