UCC head rejects criticism from staff over speech

UCC president Dr Michael Murphy has denounced as “absurd” the notion that he could have described socially disadvantaged, disabled and mature students as “academically weaker”.

Dr Murphy said he was well placed to comment on these issues as his own social background would have made him eligible for inclusion in the Access Plus programme. He also said he had spent “almost a decade serving the disadvantaged population of South Chicago” and had worked in public healthcare systems in three countries.

He was reacting to an angry letter from staff at UCC’s School of Applied Social Studies which expressed “concern, surprise and disappointment” at his comments to the Cork Chamber of Commerce in mid-December .