Teacher ‘left in tears’ after pupil’s attacks
She is suing council over alleged failures to protect her from 13-year-old
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AN INVERNESS teacher said she was left in tears and hiding in her school’s staff room following the last of four violent attacks by a pupil.
Teresa McCarthy, 51, quit her job at Drummond School in Inverness because of stress and depression following the assaults by a 13-year-old boy, who is autistic.
Mrs McCarthy claims that her former employers, Highland Council, failed to protect her, and is suing the local authority for £250,000 in damages and compensation.
She gave evidence for a second day at a civil hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
She told the court that she was first attacked in June 2001, with three more incidents following in August and September.
The boy, who was aggressive towards other staff and pupils, punched her and pulled her hair, leaving scratches on her face.
Mrs McCarthy said that, after the third attack, senior staff at the school, which caters for children with special needs, consulted educational psychologists for advice on how to deal with the pupil’s aggression.
A paediatric nurse also met Mrs McCarthy and advised her of two techniques to help calm the pupil, and staff were advised to call for help if they noticed the boy becoming anxious.
Mrs McCarthy said she was “delighted” by the nurse’s involvement because of the practical advice she offered.
Staff also identified “triggers” which made the 13-year-old anxious, and tried to avoid those situations when he was present in class. They included use of light switches and certain doors in the building.
But the boy became aggressive for a fourth time in September 2001.
Mrs McCarthy was in the process of calling head teacher Donnie Macleod for help when the pupil punched her several times and pulled her hair.
She managed to get away, and met Mr Macleod in the playground. But the boy caught up with her and pulled her hair again.
Mrs McCarthy told the court: “He (Mr Macleod) was horrified and he knew that something had to happen to prevent it happening again. He had to plead with the boy to remove his hands from my hair that day.
“I was in tears and was hiding in the staff room. I was so afraid.”
The boy was excluded for a week following the attack. During this time, staff met with the boy’s parents and came up with ideas to help staff, including providing a male member of staff in the classroom.
She said she felt that some advice was ignored and that certain measures that were discussed were not put in place until she refused to work.
“By that time I was beginning to think about my personal safety and health,” she said.
The case, before Sheriff Alan Miller, continues today.
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