GMIT in vow of silence on plagiarism probe

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is taking a ‘vow of silence’ in relation to the report into plagiarism, and a subsequent cover-up, at the college that has cost in excess of €400,000 to complete.

The report remains unpublished almost nine months on from when it was furnished to GMIT President, Michael Carmody.

In March 2011, management at the institute hired external investigators to carry out a probe into the incident of plagiarism in the school of business.

The investigation team, barrister and mediator Ed Madden and UCD deputy registrar of teaching and learning Professor Bairbre Redmond, were also tasked with finding out if there was a cover-up of the plagiarism incident.

It took them over two and a half years to complete the investigation and submit their findings to the college but the report has not yet been published.

In a statement this week, in response to queries, the college indicated it would not be commenting on the status of the probe.

“The institute will not be making any further comment on the report or taking a decision on whether the report is to be published or otherwise until all matters arising from the report are completed. At this stage, it is not possible to put a timeline on when that will be,” the statement said.

Freedom of Information documents released to the Galway City Tribune show GMIT has spent €413,936 on the investigation.

The costs associated with the investigation could yet be probed by the Public Accounts Committee. The General Secretary of the Department of Education and Skills has already expressed “serious concerns” about the spiralling cost.

In its statement this week GMIT said, arising out of the cheating incident, which was highlighted by this newspaper, a new policy on plagiarism has been in place since 2012.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune