Experts to meet Tralee staff after plagiarism case

A team of leading academics will meet staff and students of Institute of Technology, Tralee (ITT) next month in a research degree review prompted by the plagiarism case of the college’s former chairman.

Flan Garvey stepped down from the role in July after controversy over his 2008 master of arts research thesis, on the history of his local parish, which was awarded on foot of his study at the college where he was governing body chair since 2001.

Following complaints last November by 26 ITT academics, a panel of international experts found there was unintentional plagiarism in the thesis of the former Fianna Fáil mayor of Clare. But an appeal committee rejected the finding that the degree was unjustified because it said the rules around plagiarism were not made clear.