A PRIEST who was cleared of allegations he had
engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour with a student in a school
where he is a teacher has been granted an injunction preventing his
replacement as school chaplain.
The High Court heard today the priest fears moves are afoot by
the secondary school's board of management to replace him as chaplain
despite the fact that an investigation exonerated him.
Counsel for
the priest said he was put on administrative leave in October 2012 from
his teaching/chaplaincy position in the school following the
allegation.
Following a disciplinary investigation, he was
cleared.
The school board then sought that he undergo a risk
assessment conducted by a social worker.
He did so and the report
from the social worker was "absolutely favourable" to the priest
although it did recommend that his return to duty should be subject to a
number of conditions, counsel said.
Last October the board wrote
telling him he was to be restored to teaching duties subject to a number
of onerous conditions, including that he be removed as chaplain,
counsel said.
This meant the had not received the benefit of his
exoneration and it had serious adverse reputational consequences for
him, counsel said.
Today, Mr Justice Michael Peart granted counsel
for the priest permission to bring judicial review proceedings over the
matter and also granted an injunction that no one else be appointed
chaplain, on a permanent basis, pending the outcome of the proceedings.
The application was brought with only the priest's side represented.
The judge said the matter could come back before the court on February 12.