Date of Publication: March 07, 2022
The Panel decided that the allegations were proven as to fact. The allegations are summarised as follows: That Cian Cooney, being a registered teacher, on 24 January 2020 and 26 May 2020, was convicted of a number of offences triable on indictment and contrary to the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act, 2006 and the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, as amended by section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007, as substituted by section 3(2) of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, namely the following:
- Nine counts of engaging in a sexual act with a child who was under the age of 15 on separate dates during the period of 1 October 2013 to 31 December 2013. Eight of the nine counts related to sexual intercourse.
- Two counts of sexually exploiting a child during the period of 1 October 2013 to 31 December 2013.
The Panel of the Disciplinary Committee decided to remove the teacher’s name from the Register of Teachers and decided that the teacher would not be eligible to apply to be restored to the register, under section 31 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001 to 2015, before the expiration of a period of thirty years. The Disciplinary Committee Panel’s decision was confirmed by the High Court on 24 January 2022. Date of Notice: 07 March 2022