Professor’s charges merit serious consideration

I REFER to the article in the Irish Examiner of September 15 under the heading Professor calls for inquiry into UCC affairs.

Prof Desmond Clarke is a scholar of international repute whose daily professional work involves assessing information, gathering facts and making judgements.

He is a person of the highest integrity and ethical standards. When he makes the statements as reported, they should be taken very seriously.

Prof Clarke is a representative of the college professors on the governing body.

A poll-topper at the last election, he reports regularly on governing body matters to his constituents and much of what was contained in the article should have come as no great surprise.

It is somewhat disingenuous of the anonymous UCC spokesperson to ask Prof Clarke to provide full details to the authorities as all the files are held in UCC and are readily available to the authorities.

University legislation provides a means of dealing with the situation now prevailing through the appointment of a ‘visitor’ by the Minister for Education. A visitor, an independent person of standing such as a High Court judge, could investigate the allegations and deliver a judgement.

UCC deserves to have this unhappy episode clarified quickly and resolved once and for all.

Michael P Mortell

President Emeritus

University College Cork