THREE secondary teachers have lost their jobs over the past 10 years, and three more have been threatened, because their private lives were deemed to be in conflict with the religious ethos of the schools which employed them.
The industrial relations officer of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Ms Maire Mulcahy, said at the union's conference in Galway that two of the sacked teachers were reinstated after ASTI intervention. Five of the cases were in Catholic run schools and one in a Protestant school.
Two of those who lost their jobs were temporary or part time. One, a religion teacher from a large provincial town, was living with her boyfriend, although this was not the reason given. The other, who was later reinstated after the union intervened, was living with his girlfriend in a small provincial town.
Two teachers who were threatened were divorcees, again from small towns, living with second marriage partners and in permanent jobs. Both were told that if they did not also apply for Catholic church annulments, their jobs might be in danger.
One was told by her principal that she should at least be seen to be applying for an annulment, even if she did not intend to go through with it.
Ms Mulcahy said she agreed with delegates who had said during an ASTI conference debate that the Employment Equality Bill would create a climate of fear among teachers. The threats against teachers because of their lifestyle might not be widespread, but "six teachers treated this way is six teachers too many."