Four Catholics schools were subjected to a “trial by media” by being publicly named and shamed by a Government minister, according to a Catholic primary schools’ body.

The minister for special education, Josepha Madigan’s decision to put schools in the spotlight over disputes regarding provision of special education classes was “strongly objected to” by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA), along with many other stakeholders.

“The Government would be far better advised to look at the very real challenges faced by schools opening special classes rather than subjecting some schools to trial by media,” Seamus Mulconry, CPSMA secretary general, told The Irish Catholic.

The minister’s plan was announced in a meeting last Thursday with the National Council for Special Education, when the CPSMA and other schools’ bodies were told that a number of schools were to be publicly ‘named and shamed’.

The Catholic management body along with “many other stakeholders present… strongly objected that such a move would be unfair and unhelpful”, Mr Mulconry said.