A disciplinary hearing involving secondary school teacher Enoch Burke has ended, with the board of management due to consider the matter further before issuing its decision.
The proceedings under Section 4 of the Department of Education Circular 49/2018 relate to alleged gross misconduct at Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath.
After today's meeting in Mullingar ended, the school principal and a legal representative for the board of management were followed and verbally berated by Mr Burke, his mother and two of his siblings.
Frank Milling and solicitor Katherine Kelly were followed out one exit of the hotel by the Burkes and back into the front entrance of the property, before they took refuge in a function room.
Mr Burke had taken exception to the presence of legal representatives for the board of management being at today's meeting.
Speaking before he was asked to leave the premises by hotel staff, Mr Burke said it was "preposterous and reprehensible" that the board of management meeting proceeded in such circumstances.
He described the process as a "sham and a cover up".
His mother, Martina Burke, described the meeting as "evil" and said it was "a shambolic process".
Yesterday, the High Court refused to grant Mr Burke an injunction to prevent the hearing.
Mr Justice Conor Dignam said the applicant's intention to continue to breach court orders against him, meant the balance of justice tipped against allowing the injunction.
Mr Burke contends last September’s order, that he not present for duty at the school, is unconstitutional.
Today's hearing got under way shortly after 10am, but was interrupted by Mr Burke and some members of his family, who took issue with the way the proceedings were being held.
They repeatedly chanted that the chairperson of the board of management should be present at the meeting. The person in question took ill last night.
In their absence, members elected a new chairperson for today’s hearing.
Mr Burke also objected to the presence of legal representatives for the board of management being in attendance.
Amid heated protests by the Burke family, local gardaí were called to the scene. They monitored the situation for around 90 minutes, before leaving the hotel.
Sources close to the board of management said the process was conducted "to the letter" of the relevant department circular, in relation to disciplinary procedures.
These govern revised guidelines for the suspension or dismissal of teachers and principals.
However, Mr Burke contends that these guidelines do not allow for the board to have additional representation at such a hearing.
While the criteria allow for a teacher to be accompanied by up to two people, he said there is no allowance for the board to have additional representation, as the process takes place at a meeting of the board of management itself.
The circular states that following the hearing, the board will notify the teacher of its decision and any intended disciplinary action, if that be the outcome of its deliberations.
Such sanctions can range from final written censure up to dismissal.
The circular says any disciplinary action should be proportionate to the nature of the issue of professional competence.
Any teacher or principal subject to sanction has the right of appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel, which would be appointed by the board of management.
A dispute between Mr Burke and the school arose after the then principal of the school sent an email to staff asking them to address a pupil by a new name and "they/them" pronouns.
