§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary 315 to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a certain Mr. Kennedy brought a charge against the teacher of the Dungiven F.N.S., county Donegal, for alleged assault on his children; that a local magistrate who framed the charge adjudicated after-ward's on it; that the teacher was fined by the Dungiven bench; that this conviction was afterwards quashed in the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, and that as a result the children of Mr. Kennedy were extremely troublesome and disobedient, and were excluded by the manager without a promise of good behaviour; and whether, seeing that the teacher, though perfectly innocent, has not received any salary during the past fourteen months, he proposes to take any action in this matter. I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rev. E. Loughrey, P.P., was removed from the managership of the Dungiven F.N.S., county Donegal, for doing his duty as manager in helping to maintain order and discipline in the school; that this same clergyman is still manager of six other schools in the parish, and that a secret inquiry was held, at which neither manager nor teacher was present, the result of which was that Father Loughrey was removed from the managership of this school; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
MR. BRYCEThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that in February, 1905, Mr. Kennedy prosecuted the mistress of the school named for an assault upon his daughter, a pupil of the school. The Magistrates at petty sessions unanimously convicted and fined the teacher. Notice of appeal to Quarter Sessions was served by the defendant, but was afterwards withdrawn. She carried the case to the Court of King's Bench, where the conviction was quashed on a technical point. Her salary was not held back by the Commissioners, but she persistently refused to accept the salary awarded to her on the ground that it was insufficient for a teacher of her standing. After the legal proceedings, the Rev. Mr. Loughrey, who was then the local manager of the school, refused admission to 316 the children of Mr. Kennedy until an apology should be given by both parent and. children; but the manager was advised by the Commissioners that this action was unwarranted. He refused, however, to recede from the position which he had taken up. An inquiry, at which both manager and teacher were present, was thereupon held by the chief inspector, as the result of which the Rev. Mr. Loughrey was removed by the Commissioners from the managership of the school, upon the ground that he had improperly refused to admit the children of Mr. Kennedy, and had declined to recognise the authority of the Commissioners. Mr. Loughrey is still recognised as manager of seven other national schools, as to which no question of the Commissioners' authority has arisen. The entire matter is one for the Commissioners, and not for the Executive Government.
§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the National Board should hold an independent inquiry into this case?
MR. BRYCEI will forward to that Board any communication I may receive from the hon. Member, but I am not in a position to express any opinion myself.
§ MR. KILBRIDEWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the National Board to consider as to removing this manager from the control of other schools?
MR. BRYCEThese are mattes of administration which I do not think should be made the subject of questions in this House.