A West Clare parent has been convicted of assaulting the principal of the national school where his children attended.
Kilrush District Court heard Victim Liam Woulfe -Principal of Labasheeda National School suffered two black eyes, a swollen nose and a broken tooth when he was attacked by 55 year old Martin Tubridy.
Kilrush District Court was told that Mr Tubridy of Quarry Vale House, Mountshannon, Labasheeda, Co Clare punched Mr Woulfe in the face on December 9th last at the door of Mr Woulfe’s class room after coming to see him over his eight year son being put out on the line earlier that day.
In evidence, Mr Woulfe told the court that Mr Tubridy said: “You have been at my son all week.”
Mr Woulfe said that he told Mr Tubridy that he couldn’t deal with him now as he was dealing with another parent and asked could he arrange a meeting at a further date.
Mr Woulfe – who has been the principal at Labasheeda school located beside the Shannon estuary for the past 18 years – said that he was then punched in the face by Mr Tubridy who then left the school building.
The principal said: “I recoiled back into the class-room due to the force of the blow. I was shocked and dazed.”
A parent, Caroline O’Shea who was talking to Mr Woulfe at the time told the court that she saw Mr Tubridy strike Mr Woulfe in the face.
Mr Woulfe confirmed that he had a meeting with Mr Tubridy and his wife, Monica five weeks previous after they were unhappy over how he dealt with a situation in the school yard.
Mr Woulfe told the court: “I have been a teacher for 27 years and I have always treated parents with the utmost respect. I have always had an open door for parents.”
The court was told that since the incident the Tubridys have withdrawn their two children from the school.
Mr Tubridy told the court that Mr Woulfe sustained the injuries as he acted in self defence against Mr Woulfe trying to barge at him.
In sentencing, Judge Patrick Durcan said that he found the case distressing to deal with “as I am saddened to see such divisions in Labasheeda over issues that centre around the septic relations between the two parties in this case”.
Judge Durcan said that because of the poor relations between the parties, "Mr Tubridy was entering a war zone when he entered the school on the day".
Judge Durcan said that he fully accepted the evidence of Mr Woulfe and rejected Mr Tubridy’s evidence on the assault.
He said: “There are no winners in this and the side that appears the winners will lose.”
Judge Durcan said: “This is not merely a cruel conviction. There is something in all of this that is devastating to a rural community. It is septic to everyone who is here. It is damaging to children because in every house tonight in Labasheeda, people will be talking about this and every little child will hear about it."
Judge Durcan adjourned the case for one hour for the sides to aim the resolves the issues. He said that Mr Woulfe and Mr Tubridy are honourable and decent people.
The judge said: “I know that this type of thing can sound the death-knell for a school and the death-knell for a school is the death-knell for a small rural community.”
After the hour, Supt. Gerry Wall said that Mr Tubridy and Mr Woulfe had shaken hands and Mr Tubridy had apologised to Mr Woulfe.
Supt. Wall and solicitor for Mr Tubridy, Pat Moylan said that a joint approach will be now be made to the Bishop of Killaloe and school patron, Kieran O’Reilly to allow mediation take place between the two sides.
Judge Durcan said that he would adjourn the case to April 9th to see how talks progress and ordered Mr Tubridy to pay €400 in expenses.
