Irish computer science lecturer jailed for four years for breaching school rules

A computer science graduate from the University of Limerick has been jailed for three years and four months for breaching rules on campus.

In his first appearance in the Limerick District Court on Friday, Mr Fagan was given a total of four years in jail for breaching the terms of his release.

The 35-year-old was sentenced to four years and nine months by Judge Patrick Fitzgerald at the Criminal Courts in the city.

The sentencing follows an investigation into an alleged incident where a female student claimed that Mr Faggans behaviour towards her was “unprofessional”.

In his case, Judge Fitzgerald said he was “not satisfied” that there had been an assault on the woman by Mr Fagans students, and he was satisfied that there was no “malicious intent” to cause harm.

The student’s claim was made after she received a letter from a lecturer in computer science in August 2017, accusing her of “misleading the authorities” about the extent of the alleged assault.

The woman said she had received the letter in December 2017, but that Mr Fitzgerald had not been notified of the incident.

Judge Fitzgerald said that the letter was “disturbing” and “damaging” to the woman, and “the seriousness of the allegations”.

Mr Fitzgerald said Mr Fagin had “acted with gross negligence and breached the university’s code of conduct” in the letter.

He said it was “a breach of trust and a breach of the school’s code” because of the way the letter had been written.

The judge added that Mr Pappas had “failed to show the requisite degree of care” in not responding to the letter, and that the university was “deeply disappointed” in Mr Fagnans behaviour.

He described the letter as “disgraceful”, and said it “is a reflection of a lack of understanding on the part of Mr Fago’s students” about how the university operated.

The court heard that a number of students had expressed concerns about Mr Fags behaviour, but the judge said that none of them had complained directly to him.

Judge Pappascott said that it was not the first time Mr FAGANS behaviour had been a source of concern for the university, and noted that there were complaints by other students.

He also noted that the case had involved “serious and significant” breaches of the code of ethics, and it was clear that the court had taken “care not to make any findings of guilt beyond the minimum standard” set by the code.

Mr Fitzgerald added that the incident had had a “material impact” on the university.

The sentence was imposed following a hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last month.