Teachers' union issues warning over 'disgraceful' sacking

THE sacking of the principal of a Gaelscoil in Co Meath in a row over religious education has enraged teachers throughout the country and could have serious repercussions.

Wed, 31 Jul, 2002 - 01:00

Dan Collins

This was the warning last night from one of the country’s largest teachers’ unions, the INTO, which described as disgraceful the sacking of Tomás Ó Dúlaing, principal of the inter-denominational Thulach na n-Óg, in Dunboyne.

Mr Ó Dúlaing was suspended by the school’s board last April when he objected to a directive that Catholic pupils should be prepared for Holy Communion during school hours.

Mr Ó Dúlaing had decided that Holy Communion instruction should take place after school hours following an agreement which he had reached with parents. He claimed the instruction would be confusing to Protestant children and amounted to segregation.

The former principal did receive the backing of some members of the Parent’s Association, but the Board of Management began dismissal proceedings against him.

The school’s patrons, the all-Catholic 12-strong An Foras Patrúnachta, has now sacked Mr Ó Dúlaing after he refused to resign.

The disgraceful decision was a grave error of judgement that would have far reaching consequences in all primary schools, the INTO said.

“Mr Ó Dúlaing is being sacked for taking a principled stand on conscientious grounds. A grave injustice has been done to this teacher, threatening his livelihood. The INTO is determined to oppose this shameful and vindictive decision,” a spokesman said last night.

The INTO said it would use all possible means to ensure that the decision was not allowed to stand. The Central Executive Committee of the INTO will, at its August meeting, decide on the details of an appropriate response to what it termed as an industrial relations fiasco. The dismissal was condemned by Sinn Fein’s Education spokesman Seán Crowe. “The Minister for Education should initiate talks immediately to achieve a resolution and to ensure the reinstatement of Tomás Ó Dúlaing.”