School stops disciplinary action against teacher who denies she is GAA catfish

A schoolhouse has stopped disciplinary proceedings against a euphony teacher who claimed she was falsely identified arsenic the alleged “GAA Catfish” successful a fashionable Irish podcast series.

On Wednesday, the High Court successful Dublin heard that disciplinary proceedings person ended and a study that identified the secondary schoolhouse teacher arsenic the idiosyncratic the podcast relates to has been withdrawn.

Niamh Farrell, of The Spires, Portadown, Co Armagh, had been granted a impermanent injunction against the committee of absorption of the schoolhouse astatine which she works successful Rathfarnham, Dublin, preventing Colaiste Eanna CBS from progressing disciplinary proceedings against her which could person resulted successful her dismissal.

The hugely-popular episodes of the 2 Johnnies Podcast discussed a woman, referred to arsenic “Nikki”, who came to beryllium known arsenic the “GAA Catfish”.

In her sworn affidavit submitted to the court, Ms Farrell denied she is the alleged “GAA Catfish” whose alleged behaviour was documented successful the podcast episodes.

The euphony teacher said speculation online had claimed she was the “GAA Catfish” and the accusations became known among parents and the pupil assemblage astatine the schoolhouse successful 2022.

She said she informed the main the allegations were wholly false.

She said successful March she was shocked to person a study into her conduct, and said it purported to beryllium compiled nether revised procedures for suspension and dismissal of teachers and principals.

She besides denied a assertion she said was successful the report, that she had confirmed she is the idiosyncratic the podcast relates to, and stated that “at nary time” did she judge this.

The committee of absorption of Colaiste Eanna CBS was owed to taxable a replying affidavit, wherever it could acceptable retired its presumption connected the quality successful unfastened court.

On Wednesday, elder counsel for Ms Farrell, Conor Power, said the substance has been “fully resolved” and proceedings are to beryllium struck retired with an bid made for Ms Farrell’s costs.

He told the tribunal the schoolhouse has agreed to retreat the study which claimed Ms Farrell is the idiosyncratic referred to successful the podcast.

A elder counsel representing the schoolhouse said “that is correct” and confirmed the process is “at an end”.

Asked by justice Brian Cregan if his lawsuit had been wrongly identified, Mr Power told the tribunal the disciplinary process had been stopped, which is what helium and Ms Farrell had sought to achieve.

“I instrumentality it from that that the schoolhouse has ceased the disciplinary process, that’s what I sought to execute and that was what the plaintiff has achieved,” helium said.