Teacher forged the document to secure the second level teaching post

A teacher who fraudulently created documents about his qualifications with the aim of securing a job in a secondary school, breached the code of professional conduct for teachers, a fitness-to-teach inquiry has found.

A hearing to determine the level of sanction facing the teacher was adjourned on Friday and will be issued within 21 days. Potential sanctions range from a formal censure to removal from the register of teachers.

The fitness-to-teach inquiry heard that the teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left his trainee teaching post in the UK in early 2020 before completing an induction period needed to become fully qualified.

After arriving home in Ireland, he was given the option to accept a job offer as a secondary school teacher in September, provided he registered with the Teaching Council.

The teacher, however, acknowledged that he had submitted forged credentials from the UK's Teaching Regulation Agency claiming that he had finished his introduction phase and was fully trained.

The documents had a fake signature and a stamp that appeared to be from the institution.

When the teacher's credentials were later questioned in late 2020, the inquiry learned that he tried to hide his behaviour by making a false claim that he had been the victim of a "scam" and had been duped by an agency official.

Soon after, he filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, asserting that having his application for registration with the Teaching Council refused constituted "discrimination" and restating his assertion that he had been duped.

The fitness-to-teach inquiry heard at a penalty hearing on Friday that the charges in the case had been shown beyond a reasonable doubt.

The teacher said that his acts were the result of bad judgement and immaturity and that he was "hugely ashamed" of them.

"I continue to feel quite humiliated about it. I still wonder what led me to this state of mind," he remarked.

In addition to being unemployed, lonely, and responsible for supporting his mother and brother at the time, he claimed to have a history of anxiety and despair. He was particularly concerned about what would happen to the family house.

The teacher expressed regret for being dishonest and expressed a desire to work in education as a special needs helper going forward. He eventually planned to work as a teacher and had since finished the majority of the teacher training programme in Ireland.

He claimed to have two positive character references from educators who were aware of the facts surrounding the fitness-to-teach investigation.

The teacher's activities entailed a "significant degree of dishonesty," according to Hugh McDowell BL, who spoke on behalf of the director of the Teaching Council, and the wrongdoing was at the "extremely serious end of the scale."

He claimed that there were "many instances of dishonesty" that were planned.

He said that the teacher had fallen short of industry norms and that his actions could jeopardise the system of teacher regulation.

The relative youth and challenging personal circumstances of the teacher are just two elements that should be taken into mitigation, according to Patricia Dillon, the legal assessor for the disciplinary committee inquiry.

She stated that although it was unreasonable to refer to the teacher's activities as a "pattern of behaviour" given that they revolved around a single incident, there were "tentacles attached" in the attempt to hide his dishonesty.

She lamented that the teacher had also shown insight into his misconduct, had assisted with the investigation, and had expressed regret for his acts.

Charlie Dolan served as the panel's chair, and instructors Kathleen Burke and Noel Cronin served as the other two members.

The Teaching Council's disciplinary committee panel may not punish a registered teacher who is found guilty, reprimand or criticise the instructor, or impose registration restrictions on the individual. Additionally, the teacher may be suspended or struck from the list.