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The High Court refused to quash a finding by a disciplinary panel of poor professional performance on the part of a school principal for failing to inform the parents of a vulnerable, non-verbal child with autism about an allegation of inappropriate behaviour by a teacher for a period of 19 weeks. The principal's defence, based on adherence to confidentiality guidelines, was rejected by the panel, which determined that the gravity of the situation necessitated timely communication with the child's parents. Despite the principal's long-standing and distinguished career, the panel imposed an admonishment, considering it the appropriate sanction given the mid-range severity of the professional lapse and the mitigating factors of the principal's otherwise exemplary record. (This case is also reported at the neutral citation: [2025] IEHC 155.)
poor professional performance, school principal, disciplinary panel, non-verbal child, autism, inappropriate behavior, teacher, confidentiality guidelines, timely communication, parents, admonishment, sanction, Teaching Council Act 2001, Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers, natural justice, objective bias, burden of proof, once-off incident, aggravating factors, mitigating factors.
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