Decision to deny top academic entry into race to become Trinity's first female provost 'draconian'

Trinity has so far refused to disclose its reasons for not allowing Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey to go before its 800-plus electors. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

A decision to deny a top academic entry into the race to become Trinity’s first female provost has been blasted as “draconian and disproportionate”.

Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey, a French lecturer and known advocate for academic freedom was, following a hearing last Thursday of an internal committee, refused entry from the race to succeed Paddy Prendergast as head of Ireland’s oldest university.