The High Court has reserved judgment on a teacher's claim that she has been wrongfully deprived of a permanent teaching post at St Gerard's private school in Co Wicklow.
The six-day hearing of the action by Mary Hennessy against the board of governors of St Gerard's school, Bray, concluded yesterday and Mr Justice Kevin Haugh said he would give judgment at a later date.
Ms Hennessy was a maths and business organisation teacher at the school from August 2002 and she has claimed that she took the position on the basis it was permanent.
However, in March 2003, reference was made to a probationary period and at the end of April 2003, she received a letter signed by the chairperson of the St Gerard's board informing her the board did not intend to offer a contract of continuous employment at the end of her probationary period.
In the proceedings, she is seeking a declaration that she is a full-time teacher at St Gerard's and an order permitting her to return to her teaching post.
She is also seeking damages for alleged breach of contract and exemplary damages for alleged loss of reputation.
Ms Hennessy took seven classes in St Gerard's senior school, including maths to third year and a sixth-year pass class.