Call for probe into bullying claims at top school

The Government must order an immediate inquiry into allegations of bullying within a prestigious private school in Dublin, it was claimed today.

Ms Caoimhe Mairtin quit as head of Colaiste Mhuire after taking High Court proceedings over claims of alleged bullying, intimidation and psychological abuse by the school’s trustees and governing body.

The college is part of the Marino Institute of Education (MIE), a private national institution established as a charitable trust by the Christian Brothers.

The Labour Party’s education spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan today called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to order an immediate inquiry into the internal difficulties at the school, where Ms Mairtin worked for five years.

In 2003 the college received about 4m euro in grants from the Department of Education and Science.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “MIE has been in receipt of significant state funding over the years and the department has an obligation to step in and establish exactly what is going on, especially in view of the serious concerns expressed by staff members.”

Ms O’Sullivan said she will raise the issue in the Dail tomorrow.

Sources say the exact relationship between the publicly-funded college and the MIE private trust has been the source of tension between the staff and trustees.

National teachers union, INTO also called for action from the department.

General secretary John Carr said: “The department seems to be washing its hands of this because it says the MIE is a private institution – but it gets state funding.

“A very unhealthy situation has been allowed to develop and it is incumbent on everybody to ensure that conditions are improved so positive teaching and learning can continue.”

The college is celebrating its centenary this year and has just opened a 320-student apartment block which cost €35m.

A forthcoming phase will see new lecture halls and state-of-the-art PE facilities.