Ex-teacher jailed for sexually exploiting girl, 13, is banned from teaching for 30 years

The chairperson of the Teaching Council's disciplinary panel said the harm caused to the girl will probably have lifelong effects

Cian Cooney was previously convicted of various child sexual abuse offences and was sentenced in January to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. File photo: Larry Cummins

A former teacher jailed for the defilement and sexual exploitation of a girl he groomed through Facebook when she was 13 has been struck off the teaching register.

Former post-primary school teacher Cian Cooney, 36, from Ballymahon, Co. Longford,  was the subject of a fitness-to-teach inquiry held remotely by a disciplinary panel of the Teaching Council on Friday.