A Principal at a Cork school has gone out on stress leave due to allegations he strongly rejects.
Adrian Breathnach is Principal at Garlscoil Pheig Sayers where a group of parents withdrew their children from on Friday last due to what they said are health and safety concerns as well as other unresolved issues.
This evening however Mr Breathnach issued a statement to parents amid mounting pressure for him to address them.
In the two page statement the Principal said he was deeply upset by false allegations.
The statement reads
“ I am Principal of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers.
Due to the sheer shock, heartbreak and stress over the last few days I have not responded to the false, negative and defamatory commentary being made about me since Friday.
But now l am ready to respond.
I can categorically say that the allegations against me that I was under the influence of alcohol in school on Tuesday 14th April are completely untrue and unfounded.
On Monday 13th April 1 was in Kerry General Hospital, hospital records will pertain to that.
On Tuesday morning 14th I went to school without my medication for Vertigo which I was diagnosed with at Christmas.
Again, I have doctors reports to verify this.
Without my medication I was unfortunately very disorientated throughout the day.
Anybody who saw me or who spoke to me that day would have seen how disorientated I was.
I spent most of my day with the school secretary and school caretaker who will vouch for me that I definitely was not under the influence of alcohol and both were aware of how I was suffering disorientation from not having my medication for Vertigo.
The only mistake I made that Tuesday was not bringing my medication to school with me.
I have wrongfully been the target of a school protest and online social media trolls which have torn my reputation apart and has damaged the name of the school.
In my 13 years as Principal, I have never entered the school property under the influence of alcohol.
My duty of care was always to the children and I stand over that.
I was heartbroken to see parents come last Friday to take their children out of the school based on malicious and false rumours and an orchestrated campaign against me.
To the parents who took their children out, I completely understand when you had false information.
To the people online who have targeted me with false allegations, I will pray for you.
This whole protest and the online circus that followed has deeply affected both me and my family.
I am now out on stress leave.
I fully intend to return as Principal of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers and continue the work I have being doing for the last 13 years to build and grow this great school into the future.”
Éireoidh mé arís
Le meas
Adrian Breathnach (Príomhoide, Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers
When contacted a spokesperson for the Department of Education said it can not comment .
