Cork teacher faked student numbers to earn extra grants

The former principal of a gaelscoil was given a suspended one-year prison sentence yesterday for overstating the numbers of children enrolled in the school so as to get higher grants for the benefit of the school and the pupils.

The prosecution and defence agreed with Aileen Ní Cheallagh that the deception was carried out not for her own benefit but to increase the advantage of the school and the children attending it.

Tom Creed, defending, said it was the DPP that recommended that Ní Cheallagh be prosecuted even though it was recommended by gardaí that she would receive an adult caution and not be prosecuted.