Teachers throughout Bray, Co Wicklow, have given their backing to a school principal, Mr Gear≤id ╙ Ciarβin, who last week was told by the High Court he could not suspend indefinitely a student who smoked cannabis on a school trip. Teachers at the principal's school, Colβiste Rβith∅n, have threatened to take industrial action if the local VEC attempts to suspend or dismiss him.
Teachers from various parts of the State have started sending Mr ╙ Ciarβin donations to help him pay the £100,000-plus of legal bills he is facing. Many have also sent written messages of support.
The High Court found that Mr ╙ Ciarβin had no legal authority to indefinitely suspend David McKenna, a Leaving Cert student who admitted smoking cannabis on the trip in October last year, along with four other boys.
Mr Justice ╙ Caoimh said it was the local VEC which decided whether a pupil was kept out of school on a long-term basis. While it appeared that David had provided cannabis to other pupils in the school, the VEC did not support expelling the boy and wanted his reinstatement.
However, Mr Sean Gilsenan, chairman of the ASTI branch in Bray, said teachers felt "disgusted" at the way Mr ╙ Ciarβin was treated in the case by his employer, Co Wicklow VEC.
The Wicklow People quotes the chief executive of Co Wicklow VEC, Mr Hugh O'Brien, as saying any strike action is a matter for the teachers and their union.