Official’s death threat claim to be investigated

Elected officers of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland are to investigate their general secretary’s claim that he was bullied and had a death threat made against him on a website used by some of the union’s members.

The issue was dealt with in a brief statement to the ASTI annual convention in Wexford yesterday morning by president-elect Philip Irwin. He said he was referring to general secretary Pat King’s statement in a public session the day before, in which he said he had received a death threat and that he was subjected to bullying.

Mr King made his remarks during a strong criticism of what he said was the abusive behaviour of some members who shouted over Education Minister Ruairi Quinn during his speech to the convention the evening before.