Trinity lecturer to appeal suspension

A PROMINENT academic suspended from Trinity College Dublin is to appeal the decision.

Last month, the board of the college suspended Dr Seán Duffy, a lecturer in medieval history, on full pay for six months.

In addition, the board said he would not be permitted to head a department or school, or serve as faculty dean or an officer of the college, for four years.

Dr Duffy had until this week to appeal the decision. In a statement yesterday, Trinity confirmed that it had received correspondence from the lecturer “indicating his intention to appeal the board of the college’s decision to the visitors of the college.”

The “visitors” are the chancellor of the university and a Government appointee who is independent of the college.

The board’s decision to suspend Dr Duffy followed recommendations made by a disciplinary panel established to investigate allegations made against him by a post-graduate student and by the former dean of graduate studies.

The disciplinary panel had met twice to hear the complaints. Dr Duffy admitted to a number of charges and apologised to all concerned, and specifically to the post-graduate student.

The board took the decision to suspend Dr Duffy on October 27. On November 2, Dr Duffy lodged his own formal complaint, which is understood to concern the postgraduate student who had levelled allegations against him.