St Kevin's acting headmaster steps aside over legal complaint
The acting headmaster of St Kevin's College has been forced to step aside less than 24 hours after being promoted to the position, due to an allegation that she pressured a former school counsellor not to report a grooming allegation involving a teacher and a schoolboy.
Janet Canny was asked to step aside from her role on Thursday morning, after former school counsellor Maree Keel filed a complaint against her in the Federal Court.
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is acting for St Kevin's counsellor Ms Keel, who has been on sick leave since November.
They say the complaint, filed on Wednesday, alleges Ms Canny obstructed Ms Keel's attempt to make a mandatory report of alleged grooming involving a student and a teacher in 2018 and 2019.
St Kevin's governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia, said on Thursday morning that Ms Canny had been asked to step aside.
"I write to advise that St Kevin’s College Deputy Principal Janet Canny has been asked to step aside from her
duties pending an investigation into allegations regarding her handling of a staff member’s complaint," executive director Wayne Tinsey wrote in a letter to parents and guardians.
"Mrs Canny strongly refutes these allegations," Dr Tinsey wrote.
"The investigation will receive the highest priority and be conducted by professionals external to the College and
EREA."
Ms Canny was appointed acting headmaster on Wednesday, after Stephen Russell resigned the post under extraordinary pressure over the school's botched handling of a former coach's grooming of a student.
Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:
St Kevin's former volunteer athletics coach Peter Kehoe was convicted of grooming year 9 student Paris Street in 2015. Mr Russell gave him a post-conviction reference.
St Patrick's principal John Crowley was named his permanent replacement as headmaster but is yet to step into the role. He will do so on Thursday.
More to come