‘Atmosphere in school toxic to your health’

A TEACHER who publicly challenged the manner in which her union, the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland, was conducting a national dispute two years ago, was immediately ostracised and bullied by a majority of colleagues.

Patricia O’Shea’s letter to a newspaper precipitated a hostile reaction from fellow teachers and led to threatening phone calls to her home. The anonymous calls were later traced by gardaí to Cork secondary school Mount Mercy College on Model Farm Road, where she had worked for 20 years.

The English and music teacher, shunned by most of her staff room colleagues, was forced to resign amid vicious, unfounded, rumours she was providing a grinds service while on sick leave and that she had recorded private telephone conversations.