Coláiste Mhuire, the teacher-training college at Marino, Dublin, is on the point of providing staff with copies of a report by a consultancy firm which the college authorities say clears them of bullying and harassment, writesSéan Flynn, Education Editor
But the crisis at the college has deepened after a senior academic quit yesterday, the second resignation this week.
The report by Farrell Grant Sparks into the circumstances surrounding the resignation last year of the college president, Caoimhe Máirtín, will be distributed to staff next week.
The decision to circulate the report represents a major U-turn by the college authorities. Last week they said it could not be published for legal reasons.
In another blow to the authorities at Marino, a senior academic, Éamonn Ó Murchú, yesterday resigned from his post after 5½ years in the special education department.
Mr Ó Murchú has a formidable reputation in education circles. For 30 years he was principal of Scoil Chíarán special school in Glasnevin, Dublin. Sources said he has been dismayed by what he sees as a culture of bullying at Marino.
Mr Ó Murchú is the second senior figure to resign this week. On Monday the chaplain at the college, Fr Liam McGroarty, resigned in protest at the consultancy firm's report.
Last year, in a High Court action against the college, Ms Máirtíaccepted a €500,000 settlement from the Christian Brothers after she had alleged a pattern of bullying, harassment and psychological abuse.
Pressure to circulate the Farrell Grant Sparks report has been building for several days.
Yesterday Minister for Education Mary Hanafin expressed her unease at the continuing controversy at the college and signalled that the report should be published.
The Christian Brothers have been anxious to present the report as exonerating them of any wrongdoing. But many members of staff are dismayed that Ms Máirtín herself was not interviewed by the inquiry team.
The report also gives no reasons why the settlement was made with Ms Máirtín.
A staff meeting yesterday was told that the publication of the report could herald several legal actions. But the governing body members now take the view that they have no alternative but to release it to staff.
Pat Diggins, secretary to the governing body, said the report "confirms that there is no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment".