A SCHOOLTEACHER who claims she was falsely identified online as the so-called “GAA Catfish” has secured an interim injunction restraining her school from continuing a disciplinary process potentially leading to her dismissal.
Niamh Farrell, from The Spires, Portadown, Co Armagh, has claimed in the High Court she was wrongly identified online as the person responsible for “catfishing” – the practice of deceiving people online often in an attempt to lure them into a relationship – various individuals in activities that were the subject of several podcasts by entertainment duo The 2 Johnnies.
Arising from her false identification and allegations made against her, she claims, Ms Farrell faces a disciplinary process brought against her by Coláiste Éanna, the secondary school on Ballyroan Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 where she has worked as a music teacher since 2019.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Wednesday granted Conor Power SC, for Ms Farrell, an interim injunction restraining the disciplinary process.
The case, brought by Ms Farrell against the school’s board of management, came before the judge on an ex parte basis, with only one side represented.
Ms Farrell had been due to attend a disciplinary meeting with the board of management of the school next Tuesday, facing the risk of dismissal from her position.
In a sworn statement to the court, Ms Farrell says she has concerns that the school is relying on a “completely flawed and unlawful” disciplinary process in an effort to dismiss her, and is doing so because of “the public attention that focused on the school and pressure from some parents” in the wake of her being falsely identified as the “GAA catfish”.
She is seeking orders restraining the school’s board of management from taking any further step in the disciplinary process, any further step on foot of the report compiled by principal, and from interfering with her performances of her duties and responsibilities as a teacher.
She says that her dismissal would have “catastrophic consequences” for her career and reputation.
Podcasts published by The 2 Johnnies in 2022 described the alleged activities of an individual who created fictitious social media profiles, using those profiles to communicate with other people, often men, many of whom were involved in the GAA community.
The podcasters published a follow-up episode on the subject in January this year. The podcasts did not name the individual alleged to have carried out the catfishing activities. Nor have the Two Johnnies ever identified the individual alleged to be involved.
Ms Farrell says that she became aware in 2022 that she’d been wrongly identified by persons unknown to her as the alleged catfisher subject to the podcasts. Ms Farrell strenuously denies that she is the person behind the “GAA catfish”.
ALWAYS DENIED
Earlier this month, Ms Farrell says she was informed of an investigation report prepared by the principal of Coláiste Éanna for the purposes of a disciplinary process being brought against her.
The report refers to the alleged activities of the “GAA catfish” and Ms Farrell claims that it “seems to consider that I have admitted to being that person [behind the ‘GAA catfish’]”.
Ms Farrell avers that she has always denied that she is the person behind the “GAA catfish”, including to the principal of her school.
The teacher’s sworn affidavit raises various concerns with the principal’s investigation report, alleging that it “fails to comply with even the most basic requirements of fair procedures and natural justice”.
‘UNCLEAR OF ACCUSATIONS’
It is her case that she is unclear as to the accusations made against her in the investigation report, and insofar as she is accused of engaging in catfishing, there is no evidence in the report to support such a claim.
She says that as a result of the allegations made about her online, An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland were in contact with her for the purposes of checking on her welfare.
Her contact with the police forces, she says, has been mischaracterised by the report prepared ahead of the disciplinary meeting, and is instead framed “as somehow supporting an allegation of wrongdoing”. She says that she has never been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
She also notes that the investigation report references 63 communications received by the school from parents “regarding the unfounded and hearsay allegations made against me online”.
‘ALLEGED SERIOUS CRIMINAL CONDUCT’
“Some of the allegations alleged serious criminal conduct, but I certainly have not been the subject of any police investigation,” she says.
She avers that the report makes assertions that allegations made against her online have impacted on the school community, including staff and students.
While stating that she regrets that the “unfounded allegations” have had such an impact, she says it is unclear to her how she is responsible for such allegations.
Mr Power, for Ms Farrell, said that it seems that the allegation brought against his client in the investigation report is that she has brought the school into disrepute.
PROTEST COMMS
The report also makes references to communications made by parents threatening to protest outside the school, Mr Power said.
Ms Farrell says in her pleadings that the “speculation online naming me as the GAA Catfish was, and remains, a source of significant distress to me”.
“It has caused me severe distress and anguish and has affected my physical and mental health and my general wellbeing,” she says.
Mr Justice Cregan granted various interim injunctions.
