The principal of Lagan College has been called to give evidence at a trial concerning the alleged conduct of the south Belfast school’s health and welfare officer.
Neil Clarke Beckett - who is currently suspended from his position - has been accused by nine pupils of sexual offences.
All nine complainants have now given evidence at the trial, which is being held at Belfast Crown Court.
On Thursday, the jury heard evidence from the school principal regarding what steps where taken in the aftermath of the allegations.
The 43-year old defendant, from Kilmore Village in Downpatrick, has been charged with, and denies, 29 sexual offences spanning a period from 2013 to 2023.
Lagan College Principal Amanda McNamee confirmed Beckett commenced his position as the school’s health and welfare officer in August 2021.
Questioned about the first time she became aware of allegations concerning Beckett, Mrs McNamee said that in October 2022 two pupils spoke to members of staff.
She said one girl reported that Beckett had given her a hug and kissed her on the cheek whilst another girl told a teacher Beckett had given her a hug under her blazer.
Mrs McNamee said she advised that the parents of the girls should be informed and that she wanted to await their reactions before deciding the best course of action to take as per the Child Protection Policy.
The principal said that after the parents of both pupils were spoken to, she was told that whilst the parents were concerned that Beckett’s “behaviour was perceived as being inappropriate ... both parties understood at that time the context possibly was a response to children becoming upset”.
She added: “It was not presented as an allegation of being sexually inappropriate at that time.”
An immediate meeting was then held with Beckett and when asked about this by the Crown barrister, Mrs McNamee said she made the health and welfare officer aware that “parents had raised concerns”.
She confirmed that she reminded Beckett of the need to ensure “a platinum standard of boundaries”.
Mrs McNamee told the court that she went over Beckett’s role and job description at the meeting, which was also attended by a HR manager.
When asked if she discussed “the appropriateness of hugs” with him, Mrs McNamee said: “I did. I said to him that in a school setting it wasn’t appropriate”.
She was then questioned about what happened in January 2023 and Mrs McNamee confirmed a pupil attended a meeting at the school with her mother.
The pupil’s mother alleged Beckett had touched her daughter inappropriately in the school’s hygiene room and that she wanted the matter referred to the PSNI.
When asked at that point if Beckett was “withdrawn from any role in the college that would give him direct access to students”, the principal said “yes, that was the action I took immediately”.
She also confirmed she told Beckett the nature of the allegation and that he denied it and said the only time he touched her was to hand her a plaster.
The jury heard that following this, the matter was referred to the chairman of the governors and Education Authority and that Beckett was placed on precautionary suspension.
A strategy meeting was then held and the matter was referred to the PSNI.
A Crown barrister asked what happened at the start of February 2023 and she said she was informed of further allegations made by pupils regarding Beckett which were also forwarded to the PSNI.
Mrs McNamee was also questioned by defence barrister Laura Ievers KC, who suggested that after concerns were raised in October 2022 Beckett wasn’t told who the two pupils were but he requested they were not sent to him in the future.
The principal replied “I don’t recall that”.
She also said she couldn’t recall requests made by Beckett to have the medical bed removed from his office and to have his office door kept open at all times.
At hearing.