Several of the lecturers who called for an investigation of the practices and career progression of Dr. Niall McElwee in 2000 have called for the terms of reference of the inquiry to be widened. As mentioned here first on Saturday, 3 female lecturers had written to then Minister for Education, Micheal Martin and expressed their concern on the manner in which McElwee was promoted in WIT, the use of slides containing images of abused children and his attitude towards fellow lecturers.

Today’s Irish Times – (Sub required)

Dr Anne Byrne-Lynch, one of the signatories, said: “We called for an inquiry then. Either it should be included in the terms of reference or the Department of Education should have a separate inquiry. The system clearly fell down.”

Alice McDermott, who has been a lecturer at WIT for 22 years, said there were “red flags” as to Dr McElwee’s behaviour which should have precluded him from his appointment in Athlone. “I went to the head of department about his behaviour, but I should have taken it further,” she said.

“Questions need to be answered as to the extent of the investigation into his behaviour in Waterford and what reference he got that allowed him to take up the job in Athlone.”

Dr Frances Finnegan, who is retiring as a lecturer after 27 years in WIT, said her life had been made “very difficult” when she originated the complaint in May 1998 about Dr McElwee’s use of graphic images of abused children. She said some students who had seen the material had counselling as a result.

“My concerns about Dr McElwee haven’t been done in retrospect. What happened in Waterford was really odd. When he was showing those slides in Waterford, if it had been dealt with properly then, perhaps he probably would not have carried on,” she said.

“We need to know if Athlone knew about these slides or if they didn’t why weren’t they told by WIT, especially given that he was appointed to a position of special sensitivity,” she said.

WIT has defended its actions, saying they had asked him to stop using the slides in 1999 following the complaints. In a statement earlier this week, WIT said the institute “acted promptly and judiciously in order to discharge its responsibilities and obligations”.

Meanwhile over at the Irish Independent it seems that they have become poetry savvy following their numerous visits to Maman Poulet in recent days.

The terms of reference for the inquiry will be published this morning – more later.