Hanafin awaits date for report into allegations against school principal

AN inquiry set up to probe a number of allegations against a secondary school principal is still continuing almost a year after being set up.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin appointed a retired assistant chief inspector of her department on February 20 last year to carry out the inquiry into the performance of Cathy McSorley.

She was the subject of a number of allegations about her role as principal of Kilkenny City Vocational School, and was granted a High Court order in 2005 preventing County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee (VEC) from suspending her.

She has always denied any wrongdoing but the inquiry set up under the 1930 Vocational Education Act is the first stage in a process that could lead to her dismissal, if the allegations against her are found to be true.

Among the matters being probed by Torlach O’Connor are Ms McSorley’s alleged failure to effectively apply the school’s disciplinary policy and her alleged engagement in the bullying of staff members.

He is also inquiring into:

* Her alleged failure to comply with orders from the VEC as directed by its chief executive.

* Her administration of the school, with regard to recording of the roll books and the supervision of a foreign trip by the school in February 2001.

* The alleged payment by Ms McSorley to students to attend the school.

The Department of Education said that the inquiry is continuing and no report has yet been submitted to the minister.

“Mr O’Connor is continuing to take evidence, however, he is unable to put a definite time scale for completion of his report,” a statement read.

It is understood that Mr O’Connor has already interviewed a number of school staff and Co Kilkenny VEC chief executive Rodger Curran.

There are only around 50 pupils currently enrolled at the school, compared to almost 400 a little over two years ago. In the intervening period, two independent reports to the VEC raised serious concerns about the running of the school, the atmosphere among staff and the payment of up to €50 a week to students at one point in 2004.

Ms McSorley was expelled from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) in 2003, while two other staff members of Kilkenny City Vocational School were suspended for what the union executive deemed as unworthy conduct in December 2004.