School principal faces inquiry

A SCHOOL principal is to be the subject of an inquiry after Education Minister Mary Hanafin ruled that the woman could not be suspended by County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee (VEC).

Principal Cathy McSorley was granted a High Court injunction last June preventing the VEC from removing her from the post at Kilkenny City Vocational School, pending the outcome of such an investigation. This inquiry has now been ordered by the minister, whom the committee had asked to suspend the principal.

The dispute arises from allegations that Ms McSorley’s leadership of the school has been unsatisfactory, and follows a dramatic drop in student intake and reports that students were being paid to turn up at school.