Students disciplined over egging at anti-fee protest

Three students have been reprimanded by University College Dublin for their role in an anti-fees protest during a visit by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in which a college vice-president was hit with an egg.

Although they avoided a full disciplinary hearing that could have led to them being expelled, the UCD students were each given a suspended €200 fine and must send a written apology to vice-president for students Martin Butler.

The incident happened when Mr Kenny was opening UCD’s student centre last November. Mr Butler was accidentally hit by an egg thrown by students protesting against fees.

Suzanne Lee, Aidan Rowe, and Ben McCor-mack were called to a preliminary hearing yesterday before UCD’s registrar Prof Mark Rogers, in place of Mr Butler who would ordinarily conduct such a hearing.

The three were disciplined for allegedly breaching four sections of the student code.

Under college procedures, the hearing could also have resulted in no action being taken, or in the case being sent forward to a disciplinary hearing.

Ms Lee said they intend to comply with the sanctions imposed yesterday, and understand any of them can be asked to pay the €200 fine if they breach the student code again.

A UCD spokesperson said all such matters are confidential between college and students, so it would not be appropriate to comment.

Ms Lee, a third-year mathematical science student, said it was the best outcome they could have hoped for. Mr McCormack, a final-year arts student, agreed but said he hoped it did not stop other people trying to voice their protests against fees and education cutbacks.

“It does stop us from doing things we are now aware are in the student code. I wouldn’t encourage people to follow our action,” he said.