The principal of a post-primary school has been suspended amid allegations of the emotional and physical abuse of students over several years.
Child protection agency Tusla and gardaí are investigating the claims, as is the Education and Training Board (ETB), which is patron of the school.
The allegations include the forced partial undressing by the principal of an autistic pupil in front of other students, the removal of special toys that autistic children use as a calming tool, inappropriate physical contact with students, including hugging them and sitting on their laps, and the verbal belittling of children attending the school.
The allegations were sent to the ETB in question earlier this year by staff at the school.
Their complaint, which has been seen by RTÉ News, details a large number of incidents involving the principal that were witnessed by named staff.
The school principal was placed on administrative leave following the letter of complaint to the local ETB.
The letter was signed by almost all staff at the school.
The school principal told RTÉ News that the allegations are "completely false".
"I have done my job with honesty and integrity and I have never abused anybody," they said.
The school serves a disadvantaged community and a cohort of students that staff have described as "extremely vulnerable".
They include students who are homeless or in direct provision.
In the complaint, staff say they had to "hide" certain students from the principal in order to protect them, because these students were being "deliberately targeted".
Many of the incidents outlined in the complaint relate to the principal's treatment of disabled students.
The list included an account of one student with an intellectual disability being "stripped" in a classroom by the school principal "to put him in a shirt and tie".
"This was done in the class in front of other students, he was groaning loudly and was clearly distressed.[One named student] was crying in the class watching this take place."
The complaint states that the principal wanted all students with intellectual disabilities to wear their school uniforms "even though being aware that many of the students have sensory issues and the material of the uniform being uncomfortable".
In relation to another student staff have complained that "[The principal] belittles an SEN child repeatedly by calling her names (silly, stubborn and immature) and upsetting her, and then walking away".
With a third autistic student, the principal "on many occasions would grab [the student] and hug him really tightly, 30 seconds to a minute, causing him great distress".
The complaint states "there have been a number of disturbing incidences that have taken place with [this] particular student", including the principal "sitting on his lap to help him regulate".
"When this student wanted to leave his chair, he was physically restrained by the principal and told he was not allowed to move. His stimming toys were taken from him." Stimming toys are used by autistic children to help them self-regulate.
The parents of this child, who were unaware of the details of the staff complaint, have spoken to RTÉ News about their own dealings with the principal and about complaints that they made.
They include accounts of upsetting phone calls from the principal to the mother where she could hear her distressed son either in the background or put on speaker phone.
Her teenage son is non-verbal, but she said: "If you mention [the principal's name] he says 'no Mammy, no Mammy, no Mammy’."
In the complaint, staff say some students seemed to be "targeted" by the principal.
Referring to several incidents involving another named student they said "numerous staff had to consciously try and protect [named student] from [the principal] and their deliberate antagonising which was distressing for all".
Staff itemised a number of occasions where the principal shouted and swore at parents, including telling one parent to "f... off" and, separately, a student.
"When one student asked the principal to leave her alone on numerous occasions. The principal would not and would say 'I'm your boss’."
"One student was crying and very upset after an incident during which they were told by the principal to 'shut up'."
Staff also complained that children with special needs were not given the educational supports that they were entitled to and that this is something that they were "deeply concerned about".
"It is extremely upsetting to see students' needs being so grossly ignored and interventions [suggested by teachers] being rejected," the complaint states.
They say special needs assistants were told that the code of behaviour had to be followed by all students, including those with intellectual disabilities, and that a parent should be informed that if their autistic child had a meltdown they would be sent home and possibly suspended, for breaking the school's behaviour code.
The document also includes many complaints related to how the principal treated staff. It says that they were "constantly on edge" and "fearful".
Principal denies allegations
The school principal at the centre of the allegations said that they are "completely incorrect".
"I have never acted inappropriately nor have I ever done anything that is illegal," they said.
When details of the allegations were put to them, the principal said they could not comment further because of a Tusla investigation that was ongoing.
The principal dismissed some of the allegations as "staffroom gossip", and as "weaponising content" against them.
In a statement, the Education and Training Board, which runs the school and which received the complaint from staff, has confirmed "that an individual employee at a school under our patronage has been placed on administrative leave, without prejudice, relating to matters that are now the subject of ongoing formal enquiries and around which we are unable to comment further at this time".
It said it was "at all times committed to ensuring the highest standards of service and well-being for all students in our care and for the entire school community".
An Garda Síochána has confirmed that it has "commenced an investigation into a number of referrals received from Tusla concerning conduct at an educational establishment".
The letter, which was signed by a majority of staff at the school, ends by saying that "the students’ welfare has been paramount in creating this document".
In their complaint, the staff implored the ETB head office to take "urgent action".
"It is extremely difficult to articulate the environment in which we currently find ourselves," they wrote.
"We are taking this stance as a staff as we feel we do not have any other option."
The national autism charity AsIAm has said it is "deeply disturbed" by the allegations.
It said: "Without prejudice to the investigation, it is important to note that the alleged incidents concerning the use of restraint, a lack of respect for sensory accommodations and an inappropriate and discriminatory application of the code of behaviour are all too common within our community."
In a post on X, Inclusion Ireland said it would be writing to the Minister for Education "seeking clarity on Children First - National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children in schools".
If you have been affected by issues raised in this report, helplines are available here
