The former head of a school in Co Armagh has distanced himself from a math teacher who harassed staff as part of a cover after helping students cheat on exams.
Pat McGuckian said she was “completely blindsided” by Patrick Hollywood’s “cheating and corruption”.
Hollywood (41) has admitted 19 charges related to his time as a teacher at St Patrick’s High School in Keady, including harassing Dr. McGuckian.
He warned of violence in several threatening letters to colleagues and claimed he had “the full support of IRA volunteers,” Newry Crown Court was told.
The defendant pleaded guilty to seven charges of threat of murder, six of harassment, four of attempted intimidation and some charges of forgery and causing another person to fear that violence would be used against them.
All crimes were committed on dates between December 31, 2016 and December 1, 2018.
dr. McGuckian resigned from her position in April 2018, citing what she described as “a vicious campaign of harassment and intimidation,” which included receiving a series of malicious and anonymous letters.
She said she now wanted to express her concerns about representation on behalf of the defendant at the Newry Crown Court on 4 July.
dr. McGuckian absolutely denied any claim by Hollywood that she was directly or indirectly a party to or endorsed his actions. Copies of a statement to that effect have been sent to the court and the Public Prosecution Service.
dr. McGuckian said she had kept quiet to complete the trial in Hollywood.
“After [his] confession to the charge of harassment against me, there are some points that need clarification,” she added.
“He was a man I absolutely trusted. I was completely blown away by the level of deceit and corruption from someone I believed met the high standards of professionalism and integrity I have held during a 34-year career in education. year.
“Until this shameful sequence of events, my integrity as an educator stood undisputed; my reputation was impeccable.
“It is a deep regret that malpractice has occurred during my stewardship of St Patrick’s High School.”
dr. McGuckian said independent research conducted by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools in March 2018 and the CCEA Board of Examiners in April 2018 had worked in her favor. She added: “I would also like to record that it was I who made the request for an outside investigation to be conducted. I accept responsibility for the missed opportunity to expose Mr. Hollywood’s malpractice in mathematics, for which I was sanctioned by CCEA.
“Being a teacher isn’t just about giving information, but more importantly, building character.
“Mr. Hollywood’s willful malpractice, followed by his vicious campaign of intimidation, represents, in my view, the antithesis of what a teacher should be.
“Since taking early retirement I have been engaged in educational research at Queen’s University, Belfast, graduating with a PhD in Education on 2nd July.
“I hope that with my knowledge and voice I can make a positive contribution to education for the well-being of all young people.”
dr. McGuckian added that she now wanted to move on after she set the record straight.