A TEACHER at one of the State's top Catholic secondary schools was told to go home when he turned up for work on Monday morning, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe was told that Pierce Dillon, Harcourt Green, Dublin, was met by the principal of Catholic University School, Leeson Street, Dublin, and told to leave the premises following a week-long suspension with pay.
Maireád McKenna, counsel for Mr Dillon, said the school's board of management had suspended her client following a committee of inquiry investigation into complaints of alleged indiscipline.
She said his solicitors, Hanby Wallace, had written to the school, which is run by the Marist Fathers, indicating that Mr Dillon wished to appeal the board's decision but had been told on Monday morning that he had no right of appeal.
Ms McKenna said Mr Dillon had 28 years of unblemished teaching in science and physical education and had been with the school for 16 years. In March 2006 the school secretary had alleged he had spoken to her in a disrespectful manner while waiting to speak to the principal. In May 2007 he had received a letter from the school concerning the incident and six other incidents of alleged misconduct, which the principal, Fr Daly, had determined were to be the matter of a disciplinary investigation.
Ms McKenna said that on September 11th, 2008, Mr Dillon had been informed by letter that the board had decided to suspend him with pay for a week, together with a written warning which included a number of "pre-conditions" for his future employment.
Mr Dillon had taken issue with the school in respect of the disciplinary investigation and his solicitors had indicated that he wished to appeal. There had been no response until he had turned up for work on Monday morning.
Diarmaid de Paor, deputy general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers' Ireland told the court in an affidavit that under disciplinary procedures agreed between the ASTI and the joint managerial body representing boards of management, Mr Dillon was entitled to a right of appeal.
Mr Justice O'Keeffe granted Mr Dillon a stay on the suspension until this morning when the court will deal further with the matter in the presence of legal representatives on behalf of the school. Yesterday's application was made ex parte, in the absence of any representative of the school.