The former president of Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, made an impassioned plea for help in her letter to a senior Christian Brother, writes Seán Flynn, Education Editor.
The contents of the letter from the former president of Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, to a senior member of the Christian Brothers will be seen as shocking and disturbing by many in the education sector.
Caoimhe Máirtín writes about an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. She writes about people who travelled long distances to be with the Marino community of Christian Brothers for their Christmas Eve Mass
"Why are they now frightened, confused, damaged and distressed? Why is all of this happening? Why are the brothers allowing it to happen? Why have these people been refused the opportunity to meet with the brothers and tell their story? she asks in her letter to a senior member of the Christian Brothers.
The questions are all the more remarkable because Ms Máirtín is synonymous with the transformation and success of the college.
Traditionally the college had trained the then plentiful supply of Christian Brothers for teaching but the decline in vocations saw the remit of the college change dramatically over the past decade as the number of lay students increased.
The surge in teacher-training numbers saw the Department of Education casting around for suitable extra facilities.
With its extensive facilities, Coláiste Mhuire on a 34-acre site on Griffith Avenue was ideally placed.
Ms Máirtín was recruited five years ago, largely to oversee the transformation of the college from one training a small number of students to one where over 150 now graduate every year.
While the college was now a fully-fledged teacher-training college, it was very different from others, likes its neighbour St Patrick's in Drumcondra. Instead of a block grant it receives capitation grants totalling some €4.5 million per year.
Meanwhile, its staff are paid directly by the college and not by the State - as is the case in other training colleges. Coláiste Mhuire is also only one component of the Marino Institute of Education (MIE), controlled by the Christian Brothers.
This is run by a director, overseen by a governing body and trustees.
The structure of the MIE has three elements:
Coláiste Mhuire, the teacher-training college;
The Centre for Education Services, a research centre;
A section which organises conferences.
Sources say that Ms Máirtín was the only name to figure when Coláiste Mhuire sought a new president five years ago. A former principal teacher, this would be her sixth post in a distinguished career.
At first things appeared to have gone smoothly. The new president recruited a strong academic team, many vastly experienced former primary teachers. But, according to her letter, conflict emerged when she began to fulfil the duties and responsibilities "as outlined in my contract".
Ms Máirtín may have been president of the teacher-training facility but her capacity to run the college as she wished was limited. This is because the college was only one component of the Marino Institute.
Her problems appear to have started when she started asking what were seen by some as awkward questions about the running of the college. In particular, she believed the college did not have transparent procedures required for an institution in receipt of public money.
In this, she was supported by many staff who admired and respected her. In her letter Ms Máirtín says the "situation in Marino is not just another management problem that needs resolution".
She refers to "large gatherings" of staff where people are chastised and harassed. "They are in crisis. They need to be listened to, cared for and valued."
In a key section of her letter she writes: "I do not believe I have out-stepped or over-stepped my post, and if that has happened I have been given absolutely no indication of this by anybody."
Ms Máirtín had been motivated to take the job because of her admiration for the Christian Brothers and what she calls "their extraordinary service through Marino to education in Ireland".
Writing about her initial appointment, she says: "It was difficult for me to commit to the job at a time when the brothers were experiencing turbulent times, particularly in the media.
My decision, however, was flavoured by a feeling that an injustice was impacting heavily on many brothers who were suffering because of the improper actions of a few. Over the past four years I have particularly valued the friendship, support and encouragement of the brothers in the community in Marino, and indeed elsewhere."