Schoolteacher Banned for Five Years After €2,000 Fraud

A primary schoolteacher has been barred from the teaching profession for a minimum of five years after defrauding three colleagues of over €2,000. The decision, made by a panel chaired by Paul Moroney, prevents the teacher from reapplying for her teaching license for at least five years, with no guarantee of readmission.

The inquiry revealed that between September and October 2021, the teacher dishonestly induced a teaching colleague and two special needs assistants (SNAs) to transfer more than €2,000 to her for Apple products that were never delivered. Specifically, she received €1,102 from her colleague and €375 and €545 from the two SNAs, using the payment platform Revolut.

In addition to these amounts, the teacher is also reported to owe nearly €1,000 to the school’s board of management. The inquiry noted that she received two loans of €500 each at the start of September 2021, shortly after beginning her position, with only €50 repaid. The funds were initially provided because the teacher had yet to receive her salary from the Department of Education.

During a previous hearing in May 2023, the panel established that the allegations of misconduct were substantiated. Moroney labeled the teacher’s actions related to the Apple funds as “disgraceful and dishonourable.” He emphasized that the non-repayment of the loans harmed the students at the school, as those funds could have been used for educational purposes.

The inquiry also explored the teacher’s personal circumstances, including a reported gambling addiction and various personal tragedies, such as bereavement and a burglary. While the panel acknowledged these factors, they found that the teacher demonstrated a lack of empathy for her victims and provided minimal insight into her actions.

Moroney pointed out that the teacher had falsely claimed to have established a repayment plan for the funds owed to the board. Although she did repay the three colleagues, the panel concluded that her overall conduct indicated no genuine understanding of the impact of her actions.

The teacher was not present for the inquiry and did not have legal representation. Her case has also been heard in court regarding the deception against her colleagues, where she faced no conviction. After a plea for mitigation, the Probation Act was applied.

As the investigation concluded, the teacher resigned from her position at the school. The names of the teacher, the school, and the witnesses have been withheld due to the panel’s order. The complaint was lodged by the director of the Teaching Council, which seeks to uphold standards within the educational profession.