School staff 'gobsmacked' by phone rant from Coughlan [Independent.ie]
- Published: 28 January 2011
EDUCATION Minister Mary Coughlan took time out of her busy schedule to berate a "gobsmacked" school deputy principal in an angry phone call, made after she saw a story in the Irish Independent.
The minister's rant -- at a time when the Government teetered near collapse and a Fianna Fail leadership contest was under way -- came after authorities in the Dublin school commented on delays in providing a new building.
Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra has been waiting 15 years for a new building and staff were not convinced by a sudden promise made on Monday by the minister to include it in a list of 400 school projects.
Principal Sean O Donaile's sceptical comments enraged the minister, who picked up the phone and personally rang the school early on Tuesday morning to express her anger in strong terms.
Phone
The principal was out sick and the phone was answered by deputy principal Aodh O Mairtin, who received the tongue lashing from the minister.
At one stage he interrupted her to ask "are you cross?" to which she replied "yes, I'm very cross". She then gave him her phone number and demanded that he get the principal to call her back but Mr O Donaile was unavailable to do so.
A spokesman for Ms Coughlan confirmed the minister had telephoned the school.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
