A report commissioned by the trustees of Marino teacher training college in Dublin has largely cleared the college of any wrong-doing in the events which led to the resignation of its president Caoimhe Máirtín.
But the report does not explain why the Christian Brothers-run college agreed to an estimated €500,000 High Court settlement last year. Ms Máirtín, the former head of Cólaiste Mhuire in Marino, had complained of bullying , harassment and psychological abuse.
The report - conducted by Farrell Grant Sparks - was commissioned by the trustees of the college shortly after the Máirtíresignation last April.
The Christian Brothers say they cannot publish the full report for legal reasons and for reasons of commercial sensitivity. A summary of the report released yesterday says it found no evidence of bullying or harassment by the trustees. In a key section the report says the governing body and its key committees had "largely acted" in accordance with the lawful instrument of government at Marino. But no further clarification is provided.
Last night, INTO general secretary John Carr said he was not surprised by the findings. It was a case of "if you don't look, you won't find", he said.
Mr Carr also questioned why Ms Máirtín was not questioned as part of the inquiry.
The INTO also says that the statement that the governing body had "largely acted" in accordance with the lawful instrument of government at Marino" needs to be clarified. Mr Carr asked: "What part of their own rules did they not obey?"
Last night, he called for the entire report to be published so that this and other shortcomings could clearly be seen.
The Christian Brothers statement summarises the main findings as follows:
No evidence of misuse by Marino of funds provided by the Department of Education;
No evidence of a systemic regime of bullying or harassment of either academic or administrative staff as alleged;
Nothing to corroborate the allegations that the trustees, the governing body or senior management in Marino were operating a regime or taking decisions inimical to the interests, now or into the future, of primary teacher training in Marino.
According to the Christian Brothers, the report says members of the governing body at Marino have been wrongly vilified in the media and by extension in the Oireachtas.
