College Staff Accuse Chairman Of Plagiarism

26 staff of the Institute of Technology Tralee have accused a chairman of plagiarising sections of a thesis.

Former Fianna Fail councillor Flan Garvey received a Master of Arts degree for the thesis in 2008.

However he has now been accused of cheating on the thesis for which he got the degree. On Tuesday night third-level college refused to comment on the allegations.

Mr Garvey – a retired school teacher from Inagh, Co Clare – currently sits on an examinations and assessment appeals committee at the Tralee institute, which deliberates on issues such as plagiarism by students.

After completing the dissertation in 2008 – entitled 'A study of the Saiocht of a parish in County Clare' – he was presented with his master's by the then president of the Tralee institute, Michael Carmody in 2008.

It is understood that the allegations have only come to light in recent weeks and the 26 lecturers and staff all signed their names in a two-page letter to the registrar of the institute, Dr Michael Hall last month asking him to refer the issue for external investigation.

The staff requested the registrar to refer the matter to the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority Ireland (QQI) to establish an independent panel to investigate the matter as the lecturers claims normal internal procedure in Tralee cannot be followed.

Mr Garvey was previously the subject of controversy when the Irish Independent revealed he used, legitimately, €2,800 of his expenses from Clare County Council to pay for the master's degree.

(H/GK)