School threatens legal action against parents over social media posts

Galway City Tribune – Parents of pupils at Scoil Bhríde in Menlo – where a controversy is rumbling over plans to amalgamate two classes with a total of 41 children – have been threatened with legal action by the Chair of the Board of Management over their campaigning on social media.

The Galway City Tribune understands that letters – branded as “bullying” and “heavy-handed” by parents – were sent to at least ten parents at the school.

Parents have also queried how their social media usernames were matched to their names and addresses on the school’s database, and whether management had the authority to do that.

The letter – sent at the end of last week and signed by Liam Ferrie, Chair of the school’s Board of Management – warned parents to delete their posts/comments and any ‘likes’ which they may have given to comments in relation to the ongoing controversy. Mr Ferrie told this newspaper he sent the letter in defence of the reputation of the school and its teachers.

The letter reads: “I am most concerned to learn of recent negative comments and posts made on a social media forum regarding our school and staff.

“You will appreciate that your online postings/comments/like(s) relating to the school and/or staff should be immediately removed/deleted on foot of this letter, failing which, our Board of management will have no option but to seek advice in respect of what further action the school might take to protect its interests, and those of our staff.”

In a statement to the Galway City Tribune yesterday, Liam Ferrie said: “I regret that parents consider the letter to them heavy handed, but as Board chairperson I believed I had to uphold the reputation of the school and its teachers.”

The controversy erupted two days before the end of term, when parents were told that 5th and 6th classes would be amalgamated with 41 pupils – this newspaper subsequently reported a discussion at a meeting between parents and the Board of management where a suggestion was aired that it may be possible to appoint another teacher if parents were to pay €550 each to fund him/her.

This is a preview only. To read the rest of the coverage on Scoil Bhríde, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here.

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