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Screenshots from messaging app admissible in teacher misconduct inquiry
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High Court rules that screenshots from a mobile messaging application are admissible as evidence in a statutory inquiry into a teacher's professional conduct. The inquiry, conducted by the Teaching Council's disciplinary committee, will examine allegations of misconduct, including inappropriate communication and a sexual encounter with a former student. The court's decision upholds the preliminary ruling by the disciplinary committee, which had allowed the screenshots to be admitted despite objections that they were obtained unlawfully by the teacher's former partner. The court emphasised the importance of balancing the probative value of the evidence against the potential unfairness to the teacher, concluding that the integrity of the inquiry process and the public interest in investigating serious allegations outweighed the concerns raised.
Teaching Council, disciplinary committee, statutory inquiry, professional misconduct, mobile messaging application, screenshots, evidence admissibility, privacy breach, former partner, fitness to teach, Part 5 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, High Court, judicial review, constitutional rights, public protection, probative evidence, exclusionary rule, The People (DPP) v JC, Kennedy v Law Society of Ireland (No. 3).
Note: This is intended to be a fair and accurate report of a decision made public by a court of law. Any errors should be notified to the editor and will be dealt with accordingly.
