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Tánaiste PDST
March 30th Portlaoise
David Ruddy BL
Cyber Bullying & the Law
NAPD Survey
1000 post primary pupils & parents surveyed
10% admitted to bullying online 16% Claimed to be victims 64% parents under 35 monitored 40% parents over 45 monitored
Social Media usage per day
Whats APP 30 Billion Snapchat 750 Million Face Book 350 Million Instagram 90 Million
Social Media
93% of recruiters will check you out online
79% have hired via Linkedin 26% via Facebook 80% of 12-15 year olds have a
social networking profile
Code of Behaviour
Education (Welfare) Act 2000 Section 23
Each school is required to prepare and make available a code of behaviour for its students
Guidelines for developing a Code of Behaviour (NEWB) 2008
DES Circular 45/2013
Anti-bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools
Full compliance with procedures-new policy by Easter 2014
Published Cyber-bullying ,homophobic, racist
What is Bullying? Circular (0045/2013)
“unwanted negative behaviour , verbal,psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person(or persons) and which is repeated over time”
Types of Bullying-Non Exhaustive
Deliberate exclusion Cyber bullying Identity based bullying Intimidation Physical Aggression Damage to property
Reporting
Standardised Reporting Template When ? Serious incident /Bullying
behaviour not appropriately addressed
Once a term to BOM BOM annual review DES/Patron
Ryan Collins v Abbey CBS Armagh(County Court) 2014
Negligence action Allegations concerning bullying by other
pupils School appeared to operate no blame policy Poor record keeping/use of sanctions Many investigations Boy left school
Cyber Bullying
Criminal Law Non Fatal Offences Against the person Act (1997)
Assault Harassment Threats to kill or cause serious
injury Civil Law Defamation
Cyber Bullying
Inappropriate or hurtful messages through text, social network sites, mail, instant messaging, apps, gaming sites, chat rooms etc, which, as it does not require face to face contact, can occur at any time (day or night),and can facilitate other forms of bullying, e.g. homophobic bullying
What About a Single Incident ?
Once-off hurtful/offensive public message, image,or statement on social network site or other public forum where it can be viewed and/or repeated by others is regarded as bullying behaviour.
Coláiste Chiaran, Croom.Co Limerick
28 pupils liked a derogatory Facebook post regarding personal
life of a teacher Outcome ?
Non- Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997
Section 10 (1) Use of telephone to harass
another by persistently following, watching, pestering, besetting or communicating with him/her shall be guilty of an offence.
Examples of Harmful Internet Communications
In 2013 case a man was convicted under section (10) of bullying by sending 500 offensive,threatening,explicit, text messages to a teenage boy
Irish Independent 22 January 2013
Post Office (Amendment)Act 1951
Amended by the Communications Regulation (Amendment Act)2007
Offence to send by phone or text Any message that is grossly
offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing
(Should be amended to include social media& online communications)
Remedies
Takedown Notice (SI 68/2003) Norwich Pharmacal order –
disclosure of IP address of unknown persons
Defamation
Data Protection
Disclosure of personal data
Enforcement of Data Protection 1988 act amended in 2003 in line with EU Directive 95/46/ECInjunction
Harmful & Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015
Protecting Your School
(1) Regulate the use of social media by introducing an Acceptable Use Policy(AUP)
(2)Robust Anti Bullying Policy (3)Education Programme (4)Take action where policies
breached
Follow the policy blindly & do not deviate from it
Develop a mindset that isn't personal
Its business and part of the role of a school leader
Importance of competent adviceSchools that don’t manage get into trouble
23
Admissions to Schools
Admissions to School
New Bill 2016 Education Act (s.15) 1998 Education Welfare (s.19)Act 2000 Case Law
Education Welfare Act S(19) 2000
(1) Refusal must be in accordance with Admission Policy
(2)School entitled to be supplied with relevant information.
(3) BOM communicates decision within 21 days.
Refusing in most exceptional cases ??????
The student has special needs such that the school cannot meet such needs and cannot provide an appropriate education.
Student poses unacceptable risk to other students/staff/school property
Westmeath VEC v DES& ORS (High Court) 2009
School refuses enrolment for a “transfer” application
Right of Appeal Committee to overturn/rewrite school admission policy?
Mr & Mrs x v A Boy’s NS(Equality Tribunal ) 2009
Boys school & Co Educ autistic unit. School refuses to enrol non autistic
girl
Lucan Educate Together V DES & Section 29 Appeals Comm
High Court (2009) Dispute over interpretation of
assessment reports
ADMISSIONS TO SCHOOL BILL 2016
Restrictive policies giving preferential treatment to pupils of parents who attended the school abolished ???????(STOKES case)
Waiting lists & upfront voluntary contributions prohibited
2 or more schools can be directed to operate common policy
When can schools refuse admission ?
School full Equal status exemptions Parents refuse to sign acceptance of
code of behaviour Gardaí or Child and Family Agency
write to school and give an opinion that admission of student detrimental to H&S
Who is responsible for admissions?
The principal Parents can appeal refusal of
principal to BOM BOM decision final, but parents can
appeal to National Council for Special Education(NCSE).Child and Family Agency (EWO)
Both agencies can designate a school
Removal of BOM Powers
By ETB By Minister Appointment of independent person
to implement admission process
Final appeals
Bom can appeal a designation Parents who are refused admission
for pupil may appeal New appeal body to be created by
Minister