Principal who suspended 28 calls for probe after Facebook inaction

The principal of a Limerick secondary school at the centre of a cyberbullying probe has called on the Data Protection Commissioner to help investigate after Facebook said it could not help.

Noel Malone, who suspended 28 students at Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, Co Limerick, after offensive material about a teacher was posted on the social network, said he was dismayed by Facebook’s inaction.

Facebook has yet to respond directly to Mr Malone but in a reply to TD Niall Collins, who took up the issue on the school’s behalf, the web company’s director of policy for the UK and Ireland, Simon Milner, claimed that only an offensive photograph had been reported. As it was subsequently deleted by whoever posted it, it could take no further action, he said.