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False allegations 'ruin teachers' lives'

THE fall-out from historic child sex abuse scandals is threatening to wreck teachers' lives, a major conference will hear today. Ulster Teachers' Union general secretary Avril Hall Callaghan said she welcomed that the publicity surrounding such heinous acts had given victims the strength to come forward. Speaking before the UTU's annual conference in Newcastle, Co Down, she said that measures were needed to protect those accused until such times as their guilt was proven in court.

Teacher suspensions as a result of malicious allegations by pupils were at an all-time high, she said. "This union has never before in its history had so many of its members suspended over such a short time period as a result of malicious accusations - and we worry that it could get worse. "We are not over-stating the matter to say that teachers' lives are being ruined. "Of course, it goes without saying that at the centre of any child protection debate is the child and their safety is paramount - but it must not be at the expense of the teachers."

Ms Hall Callaghanhe said the UTU received at least one query every couple of weeks from members facing claims by pupils and that number was escalating.

"Worryingly, more often than not, parents will have by-passed the school's procedures when it comes to dealing with such complaints, instead going straight to the police," she said. "Of course pupils must be protected but the system must also be realistic and fair or we risk losing good people from the profession

at a time when it is already hard-pressed. "Untrue allegations can destroy the lives of teachers and their families. "If the teacher leaves the school the allegation travels with them and it's not easy for them to find another job. "A teacher can rarely be the same person ever again."