The principal of a Co Meath Gaelscoil at the centre of a bitter four-month-long row over the teaching of religion has been sacked, writes Frank McNally
Mr Tomás Ó Dúlaing had been suspended on full pay from the inter-denominational school in Dunboyne since April, after publicly opposing management's insistence that all religious instruction take place within school hours.
He was informed of his dismissal yesterday, with immediate effect.
The decision by the school's patron body, An Foras Patrúnachta, was condemned as "shameful and vindictive" by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which said it would campaign to have him reinstated.
The INTO's general secretary, Mr John Carr, said Mr Ó Dúlaing had been sacked for taking a "principled stand on conscientious grounds". The decision would cause "outrage" among teachers, he added: "It is a grave error of judgment that will have far-reaching consequences in all primary schools." Two of the 12 members of An Foras Patrúnachta have resigned in protest. One of them, Mr Eamon Ó Murchú, said last night he was "very disappointed and upset" about the decision. But he also called on the Dunboyne board of management to "withhold" Mr Ó Dúlaing's dismissal, and give everybody involved "another chance". Foras is patron to about 40 Gaelscoileanna, six of them inter-denominational. These differ from multi-denominational schools in providing instruction only in the two main Christian traditions, Catholic and Protestant.
Although few pupils at Dunboyne are Protestant, the row centred on the principle of whether divisive matters of doctrine, such as Communion, should be dealt with during or after school hours.
The dispute fiercely divided the school, with teachers and a large majority of parents supporting Mr Ó Dúlaing, but the board of management, the formal parents' committee and the Foras against.
It even threatened the continued existence of the school, with many parents considering alternatives for their children.
Neither Mr Ó Dúlaing nor An Foras Patrúnachta would comment last night. But the INTO called for the immediate publication of a report into the dispute which has been prepared by an independent facilitator.
The organisation also called on the Department of Education to get involved.
Pointing out that the Foras received official funding, Mr Carr warned that the Department could not "walk away from this issue".