A new principal has been appointed to Aravon School, the private preparatory boarding school in Bray, Co Wicklow, whose former principal was sacked last month. Mr Kevin Allwright (41), who previously taught at Castle Park in Dalkey, will take up his post immediately, according to a letter received by parents yesterday.
The previous principal, Mrs Pat O'Malley (53), last week lost a High Court application for an injunction ordering the school's board of governors to reinstate her.
The case is due to go to a full High Court hearing early next year.
The singer Chris de Burgh has performed at fund-raising events for the 180-pupil school and is believed to have contributed about £1 million to it.
It is also understood that he has an interest in an Isle of Man-registered company, Hogarth Ltd, which bought the school premises, Old Conna House, for about £650,000 in 1994.
Old Conna House is a Victorian listed building designed by Sir Charles Lanyon. It is located at Rathmichael on the outskirts of Bray.
An architect hired by the school estimated in 1994 that it would cost between £4 million and £5 million to reinstate the buildings if they were destroyed by fire.
It is understood that Hogarth Ltd currently leases the school premises back to the board of governors for about £20,000 a year.
Mr de Burgh is a past pupil of the school and has two children enrolled there. Parents of children attending the school pay between £1,149 and £3,000 per academic year for day pupils.
Mrs O'Malley and her husband, Terry (55), have taught at the school for 27 years. They currently live in an apartment in the school premises with two of their four children.
Mr O'Malley, a former principal of the school, was also dismissed recently by the board of governors from his post as a parttime science teacher. He is taking personal proceedings through the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Mrs O'Malley was notified in a letter from the board last Wednesday to vacate the apartment by last night.
Speaking from her home yesterday evening, she said that she could not comment.
A family friend said that Mrs O'Malley's solicitor had written to the board's solicitor yesterday stating that she could not leave the family home for legal reasons, as court proceedings were pending.
The school's board notified parents of Mr Allwright's appointment in letters received yesterday. The parents were invited to meet Mr Allwright at the school for a glass of wine next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Some parents of Aravon pupils have formed a support group for Mr and Mrs O'Malley, which is due to meet today.
It is understood that about 10 families are trying to place their children in other schools for the new term.